It’s a good idea to make dinner reservations for parties of more than six people. It allows the restaurant to be staffed and prepared for larger-than-usual groups.Well, FIFA has made a reservation for up to 650,000 visitors to Kansas City for the six World Cup matches played at Arrowhead Stadium in 2026.
Takeaways
- Kansas City may not have enough current hospitality workers to accommodate the 650,000 World Cup visitors with more than 6,000 open food service job listings and no coordinated plan to address staffing.
- The World Cup presents an economic opportunity to pull vulnerable residents out of poverty and into a hospitality career through workforce training.
- Kansas City’s reputation is at stake as poor hospitality experiences could damage the city’s chances for hosting future major international events.
As ticket sales begin — including four group-stage matches, one round of 32 match and one quarterfinal match hosted in KC — some restaurant leaders are nervous that the area’s hospitality industry isn’t ready for the flood of guests that the World Cup will bring.
“I fear for Kansas City a year from now,” said Jenn Tosatto, beverage director for Penny’s Restaurant Group. “We’ve worked really hard to show that we aren’t just a flyover city and that we have things to offer in our food and beverage scene. But we’re not at our strongest right now.”
Chef Shanita McAfee-Bryant, founder of The Prospect KC, a hospitality workforce development nonprofit, also is worried. She points to the job listing site Indeed, which currently shows more than 6,000 food service job openings, as a cause for concern.“We have a shortage of 6,000 jobs,” said McAfee-Bryant with the first World Cup match less than a year away. “So how prepared do you think that is? Not prepared at all.”…