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Kansas City 2026 World Cup Transport Guide
How to get to Kansas City for the 2026 World Cup, getting to Kansas City Stadium, and traveling around KC during the tournament 🛫
✒️ By the worldcup-travel.com team | 📅 Updated 2 June 2025
Our Kansas City transport guide is your go-to resource for planning your 2026 World Cup travel, complete with tips on getting to Kansas City, where to go when you get here, and how to best commute beyond city limits. We also have recommendations to help fans score the best deals on World Cup flights and car rentals in Kansas City.
Note: All of the information below is current. However, specific transportation guidance will be announced between now and the 2026 World Cup. Sign up to our email list so you get the latest information and deals directly to your inbox đź“© .
Explore more Kansas City 2026 World Cup travel tips:
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Kansas City is on the larger size for most midwestern cities (about half the size of London), with a pretty low rating for walkability. Individual neighborhoods are walkable, but getting from destination to destination in KC does require a car, or, at the very least patience in navigating the limited bus or trolley system. The up side: The trolley is free!
There isn’t a lot of congestion in KC, so you won’t have to deal with much traffic outside typical rush hours. Uber and Lyft are widely available and a great solution for getting to and from the airport. We will say, taking a car to Arrowhead Stadium is almost a must, but since the parking lot holds close to 19,000 cars, it turns into a super fun tailgate party.
As of June 2025, local government is set to intensify preparation efforts for the hundreds of thousands of fans expected to descend upon Kansas City for the 2026 World Cup. There are extensive transportation improvements in the works, and 200 buses have already been leased to help close gaps within public transportation, adding proposed shuttle routes.
Chartered buses will likely have designated pick-up and drop-off points (that are yet to be determined). This could help eliminate nearly 17,000 cars in that massive lot, so maybe the tailgate won’t be as popping as it normally is on game day. Time will tell!
While investments and logistics are still being finalized, the hope is that this effort will continue to improve public transport in Kansas City long after the tournament comes to an end.
Ride Like a Local: KC World Cup transport tips
We spoke to sports-mad locals to get their take on the 2026 World Cup host cities they call home. Britt Welch has this to share on getting around Kansas City and transport to and from the stadium:
Photo courtesy of Britt Welch.
Parking is a big deal. Buy your parking pass ahead of time and allow extra travel time for traffic jams.
Arrowhead is huge. Be ready for a bit of walking – comfortable shoes will be a smart move.
Transportation isn’t great. Though, rideshare apps (Uber/Lyft) and car rentals are accessible and easy to use.
Get more KC in-the-know tips from Britt in our Kansas City World Cup City Guide and read more about 2026 World Cup car rentals in KC below.
Flying to Kansas City for the 2026 World Cup
The closest airport for flights to Kansas City for the World Cup is Kansas City International Airport (MCI).
Interestingly, its original name was Mid-Continent International Airport, and it still maintains that airport code today, but colloquially, it’s referred to as KCI. It’s located 15 miles northwest of downtown Kansas City, 28 miles northwest of Kansas Stadium, and offers nonstop flights to over 50 destinations and 400 departures daily.
Kansas City International Airport (MCI) – the primary option for flying to Kansas City for the 2026 World Cup
âś… A three-hour flight from either coast
âś… Not a hub for any airline = lower fares for travelers
âś… Flies non-stop to all USA host cities
You can search for World Cup flights to Kansas City from the box below through Kiwi.com. Their tech finds flight itineraries that combine multiple airlines (they call it “Virtual Interlining”) with options that aren’t often available anywhere else. This can help streamline the booking process and increase savings.
2026 World Cup car rental in Kansas City
Will fans need a car in Kansas City for the World Cup?
Renting a car for the 2026 World Cup in Kansas City might be the best idea for getting around. The city is spread out, and public transportation isn’t fast or super efficient. Just make sure to factor in parking availability and costs when booking your accommodation. That said, the city is planning improvements to their public transportation system, so watch this space and maybe you can get away with not renting a car.
Will car rentals be more expensive in Kansas City during the World Cup?
Rental car prices fluctuate and can increase when demand is high during holidays and events. You can always try locking in your reservation early to ease costs, or you can find one with a generous cancellation policy. For tips on booking with free cancellation and no credit card fees, read on below 👇.
Kansas City car rental companies and peer-to-peer rental options
Kansas City International has all the major car rental companies, including Avis, Budget, Enterprise, and Alamo. Take a quick shuttle to the car rental hub, which is on airport grounds. You can also look for 2026 World Cup car rental options closer to Downtown. Enterprise has quite a few locations around the city, and Avis has one southeast of the airport, which might be cheaper, but could add to your travel time.
In addition to the big car rental companies, there are also peer-to-peer car rental options, like Turo. It’s similar to Airbnb, in that you rent a person’s car for the duration of your stay instead of using a car company. This option might offer increased inventory for car rentals in and around Kansas City during the 2026 World Cup.
Tip: If you’re looking for car rentals in Kansas City for the World Cup, we recommend Qeeq.com, where you will always pay the lowest price.
Qeeq’s Price Drop Protector 📉 tracks prices daily, and if the rental price drops after you book, Qeeq rebooks at the lower price and saves you the difference. They offer free cancellation, no deposits or credit card fees, and you can even pay with crypto if that’s your vibe.
Alternatively, Trip.com is part of the same group as Skyscanner.com, and allows you to search car rental deals from all of the big companies – with free cancellation, no credit card fees, and often extra discounts as an incentive.
Buses to Kansas City for the 2026 World Cup
It’s unlikely that you would choose to take a bus to Kansas City for the 2026 World Cup. The closest World Cup host city to Kansas City is Dallas, and it is 560 miles away. It would take a minimum of 12 hours - though, at $70.99 for a ticket, it’s certainly the cheapest option to travel between World Cup host cities.
Kansas City Bus Station, owned by Greyhound Buses, is the intercity/interstate bus terminal. Only Greyhound and FlixBus operate there.
Trains to Kansas City for the 2026 World Cup
Kansas City’s Union Station is right Downtown, and it’s where Amtrak operates. The Missouri River Runner line travels between Kansas City and St. Louis, while the Southwest Chief line runs between Chicago and Los Angeles with KC as an interconnecting stop along the route.
Unfortunately, taking a train to Kansas City for the 2026 World Cup is as inconvenient as taking a bus. For about $150, you could get to Dallas in 27 hours with multiple stops and train changes; Los Angeles requires no connections, but it will take 35 hours and can cost up to $400.
Public transport in Kansas City
The bus system in Kansas City isn’t known for being amazing, but that being said, it’s not difficult to use. Download the RideKC Transit App for a complete rundown, including information on bus routes, trolleys, and rideshares like Uber and Lyft.
The KC Streetcar is a one-way loop system around Downtown Kansas City. It’s free and it takes about 30 minutes to do the full circle. It’s a great way to get around the Downtown area, but beyond that, you’ll have to take a bus.
Kansas City was the first USA city to offer Zero Fare buses beginning in 2000. For now, that’s still the case. Though, if you’re leaving the area, you’ll pay $1.50 to $3.00 per ride.
Fans can hop on the 47 Broadway line to catch the shuttle service to and from Kansas City Stadium on game days. The bus makes stops throughout Downtown. Typically, on game days, the KCATA Chiefs Express Shuttle also goes directly to the stadium from various pickup points. And if you’re looking for a quicker option to get around the city instead of relying on public transportation, Uber and Lyft are widely available.
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