Kansas City, Missouri – Kansas City is preparing for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ with more than stadium lights and packed streets in mind. City leaders also want the global spotlight to reach the small businesses, storefront owners, and local entrepreneurs who help give Kansas City its character.
That effort is getting a $100,000 boost from Airbnb, which is investing in the City’s Open Doors! program in partnership with the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City. The investment is meant to help local entrepreneurs move into visible, high-traffic spaces at a time when Kansas City expects a major rise in visitors connected to the tournament.
“Open Doors! is about creating real opportunities for local entrepreneurs to step into visible, high-traffic spaces and grow their businesses,” said Nia Webster, Assistant Director.
“This partnership with Airbnb allows us to meet the moment—connecting increased visitor demand with the small businesses that make Kansas City unique.”
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The timing is important. During the FIFA World Cup 2026™, Kansas City is expected to welcome about 11,000 Airbnb guests, with an estimated $105 million in economic activity tied to that visitor demand. The new investment is designed to make sure that this activity does not simply pass through the city, but reaches neighborhoods, small business owners, and the urban core.
Open Doors!, led by the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City in partnership with the City of Kansas City, focuses on activating vacant storefronts by placing local entrepreneurs in downtown spaces with strong visibility. Many of those locations sit along the streetcar corridor, putting businesses close to where visitors are expected to travel, gather, eat, shop, and explore.
“This is a defining moment for Kansas City, and our local businesses must be positioned to benefit,” said Tracey Lewis, President and CEO of the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City.
“Through Open Doors! and our partnership with Airbnb, we’re ensuring that global attention translates into real, lasting economic impact for the entrepreneurs driving our city forward.”
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Airbnb will also serve as the exclusive lead sponsor of the Airbnb Small Business Guide, a digital resource created with Open Doors! to connect World Cup visitors with local businesses, restaurants, and storefronts across Kansas City’s urban core.
The effort is part of Airbnb’s Host City Impact Program, a $5 million commitment supporting projects in FIFA World Cup 2026™ host cities that promote economic growth and improve the visitor experience. For Kansas City, the goal is clear: turn a historic sports moment into a wider opportunity for local business growth.
