Kansas City's international visitor turnout for the World Cup faces uncertainty after the Trump administration began requiring fans from 50 countries to pay up to $15,000 to enter the U.S.

Why it matters: FIFA told host cities to expect roughly half of all visitors to come from abroad, including fans from Algeria and Tunisia, which are set to play matches here. This barrier to entry puts KC's projected $653 million economic boost at risk.

How it works: The Trump administration's Visa Bond Pilot Program requires fans from specific countries to deposit between $5,000 and $15,000 per person before receiving a tourist visa.

• A consular officer determines the amount during the visa interview. The bond is refunded if the visitor leaves the U.S. on time. It is forfeited if they overstay or seek asylum.
• There is no written exemption for athletes, coaches or support staff.

Zoom in: Algeria's national team chose Lawrence as its base camp, hosting players and staff at the University of Kansas' Rock Chalk Park throughout the tournament.

• The city has been preparing for Algerian fans to follow the team there by watching training sessions and spending money locally for more than a year.

State of play: The State Department says the program is about national security.

• "Our highest priority is the safety and security of American citizens," State Department deputy spokesperson Mignon Houston said. "Before anything else, that is our highest priority."
• The bond targets countries the department says have high rates of visa overstay or have failed to provide adequate national security information.

What they're saying: "We recognize that recent visa policies may create questions for some international fans, including those traveling from Tunisia and Algeria. We continue to see high interest in the World Cup in Kansas City, and we're focused on creating memories for visitors and sustained and long-term impact for the region," a KC2026 spokesperson told Axios.

Keep reading

Predesigned homes are gaining traction in Kansas City, even as Overland Park faces backlash in getting its own program off the ground.

Why it matters: City leaders want housing that's easier to build and more affordable for residents as Americans spend more of their income on where they live.

Driving the news: Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas on Tuesday announced seven pre-approved home plans that allow builders to skip the architect fees and design delays while expediting the permit process.

• A statement to Axios from Lucas' office says builders could save $800-$6,000 in design fees and speed the process by up to three months.

State of play: KCMO's program follows Overland Park's Portfolio Homes program, which launched in November and provides a list of 26 home plans to address OP's "missing middle."

Zoom in: Overland Park planners recommended a pilot zoning rule for Portfolio Homes to streamline the process.

• Residents at a City Council meeting Monday raised concerns that the amended ordinance would hurt their ability to appeal projects.
• A majority of councilmembers approved a modified pilot zoning code that requires a simple majority by City Council for final approval.

Context: Residents spoke out against a recommended Portfolio Homes concept along Switzer Road, saying land along the road was supposed to be kept as green space.

What they're saying: "I feel like we are going to get appeals on every project that comes through," Ward 1 Councilmember Holly Grummert said at the meeting.

• Will Ruder with the Home Builders Association of Greater Kansas City said the "rapid deterioration in homebuilding conditions and homebuying conditions" requires zoning innovation and flexibility.

What we're watching: Lucas' office said KCMO's program should fit within its current zoning districts and does not require rezoning.

🏟️ A downtown Royals stadium could get up to $600 million in tax relief over 30 years, KC Mayor Quinton Lucas unveiled yesterday as part of a new financing plan to land the stadium at Washington Square Park. (Kansas City Star)

🍝 Lidia's is listed for sale as "future mixed-use potential." The restaurant, which was opened in 1998 by celebrity chef Lidia Bastianich, is owned by Crossroads developer Dan Clothier. (Kansas City Business Journal)

✈️ KCI has a new security line setup starting today, putting several entries closer to the center of the screening area. (KSHB)

• Now we have to re-learn at which door to get dropped off.

👋 Travis here.

I recently tried on a pair of Meta AI glasses at an event at VML, a global brand agency headquartered in Kansas City.

The big picture: The agency's Future 100 event took a wide-ranging look at 2026 trends, but this tech brought me straight inside the ongoing integration of AI into everyday life.

• Meta is one of VML's clients.

Zoom in: The pair of glasses I tried on ($399) talks to you, responds to voice prompts, takes photos and videos, and is outfitted with "generic" AI, staff tell me, meaning it's limited to general descriptions and tasks.

• VML is working on finding more uses for the glasses — beyond bragging to your friends, "Look what my glasses can do!" — by testing concepts and telling Meta what works.
• One idea would aid in early-onset dementia, where the glasses connect with a person's Facebook friends list to remind them in real time who they're looking at.

💭 My thought bubble: As an avid fan of wearable tech and talk-to-text (as much as it makes my wife cringe when we're out in public), I think these glasses have a lot of promise.

• As it stands, the glasses function like a glorified Siri. I think I'll hang on to my money.