Rental demand soars in KC for the World Cup
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Kansas City is one of the most in-demand World Cup host cities right now, with the city leading in occupancy rates and new listings, according to AirDNA, a short-term rental data company.
The big picture: With four months left until the tournament, fans are booking rooms before it's too late, which is squeezing the market and driving up prices.
Context: Summer bookings skyrocketed in the metro after the group stage matches were announced, peaking during the Netherlands vs. Tunisia game on June 25.
- Since then, Argentina, England and the Netherlands have all announced their base camps will be in the Kansas City metro at various Sporting KC and KC Current facilities.
By the numbers: Demand in Kansas City as of Wednesday is up 377% year-over-year, the most of any host city in the U.S. and Canada and surpassed only by Mexican cities, per new AirDNA data shared with Axios.
- KC is one of the few markets to show a noticeable growth in listings, with a lower supply than other cities, plus a recent loosening of permitting rules. It's seen a 15% increase in listings since June 2025.
- The price is also rising as demand squeezes the market — game day prices are up 228%, the most of any host city.
Yes, but: People are booking the cheaper options, and roughly 80% are only staying up to four days, compared to popular vacation destinations like Miami.
💭 Travis' thought bubble: I know we don't have an ocean, but doesn't the international community know about the beach at Lake Olathe or the sailing clubs around the metro?