Next summer, more than half a million people are expected to head to Kansas City, Missouri, for six World Cup matches, including an appearance by defending champion Argentina.
Kansas City is the smallest of the 16 North American cities that will host games. Hotel rooms in the region number in the tens of thousands, so plenty of the anticipated 650,000 fans will likely be looking to rent through Airbnb, VRBO and the like. Six months out from the tournament, homeowners and residents around Kansas City are already preparing for a temporary spike in demand for housing.
For Roxana Shaffe, preparations started over a year ago, in November of 2024. That’s when she and her husband bought a three-bedroom townhouse in Parkville, Missouri, about 25 minutes from Arrowhead Stadium, where World Cup matches will take place next summer…