KC readies for World Cup

In less than a week, the 2026 FIFA World Cup gets underway at Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium, with the opening Kansas City match sure to draw the attention of fans.

Argentina — with Lionel Messi, one of the best players to ever step on a soccer pitch — and algeria/">Algeria get underway with an 8 p.m. match on Tuesday, June 16.

Ecuador and Curacao follow at 7 p.m. Saturday, June 20.

Thursday, June 25, brings a match between the Netherlands and Tunisia at 6 p.m., and at 9 p.m. Saturday, June 27, Austria and Algeria will square off in Kansas City.

For those wanting to take in a World Cup match at Arrowhead, ticket prices on Seat Geek are currently starting in the $220-$300 range for group matches for lower-tier teams like Austria vs. Algeria, Tunisia vs. the Netherlands or Curacao vs. Ecuador.

The least expensive match currently is Austria vs. Algeria, with tickets starting at $220 — about half the amount of face value through FIFA.

If you’re hoping to see Messi, you’re looking to pay significantly more. Top matches like Argentina vs. Algeria are currently starting at about $800 on Seat Geek.

The price balloons as the World Cup enters knockout rounds and the quarterfinals, with quarterfinal tickets currently starting at about $1,850.

On Friday, July 3, there will be a round of 32 match beginning at 8:30 p.m. in Kansas City.

Kansas City’s final match will be a quarterfinal at 8 p.m. July 11.