Kansas City will become one of the 16 World Cup destinations in 2026. GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium faced a trial run in 2024 ahead of the world’s most iconic competition gracing the longtime home of the Kansas City Chiefs in 2026.

The trial has left many viewers questioning and scrutinizing Arrowhead Stadium’s lack of soccer adaptability. Those questions should be answered before the big show emerges in KC in less than two years.

Trial Run

Arrowhead Stadium has hosted many soccer matches over the years, but none have reached the magnitude of the two it hosted in 2024. The stadium, which Sporting KC (then Kansas City Wizards) called home from 1996 to 2007, hosted the two highest-attended soccer matches ever played in the state of Missouri.

In April, Sporting KC hosted a record-breaking attendance as they lost 3-2 against Lionel Messi and Inter Miami. The crowd of 72,610 set the record for the highest-attended soccer match in Missouri history.

In July, Arrowhead hosted the second-largest crowd in Missouri soccer history. A crowd of 55,460 watched as the United States Men’s National Team lost 1-0 to Uruguay as the U.S. were dumped out of the 2024 Copa América.

Both high-profile matches showcased the good but also exploited the changes that still need to happen for the stadium to be ready for World Cup action.

Small Pitch

The pitch was very tightly fit inside Arrowhead Stadium for both matches this year. The benches and elevated front-row seating hung over the field with the advertisement boards also anchored close to the pitch.

The 100 x 64-meter field used for the Copa América game will be expanded to at least 105 x 68 meters in 2026 after an estimated $50 million stadium renovation project will take out seats to allow for more space. It will still be a tight fit, but the hopes are that it will not be as problematic as it has been.

Broadcast Sitelines

Broadcast sidelines was a major issue for the broadcast in the Copa América match. The broadcast feed began with a higher siteline, similar to a tactical cam, drawing much scrutiny from viewers before eventually going to the more traditional view of the game late in the first half.

These problems have risen with other NFL stadiums hosting soccer matches. The elevated seating at these venues hovers over some of the pitch, specifically in the corners. Presumably, removing seats in the planned stadium construction will resolve this issue and broadcasts will have no issue using standard soccer sitelines.

What games will be at Arrowhead?

The 2026 World Cup will be the first time the tournament comes to Kansas City. Arrowhead Stadium will host all six games in Kansas City between June 16 and July 11, including four group stage games, a Round of 32 game and a Quarterfinal game. Three of the four Group Stage games are expected to include the top-seeded teams of the group, meaning historic teams such as Brazil or Germany could play in Kansas City.

The United States has been placed in Group D of the tournament with three countries that will be determined later. While the U.S. will play twice at SoFi Stadium and once at Lumen Field, there is a path for the U.S. to play a Round of 32 and Quarterfinal match at Arrowhead Stadium.

While Arrowhead is not currently a suitable soccer venue, it should be prepared for the 2026 World Cup following renovations. Once construction is completed, those lingering issues should be resolved and Arrowhead Stadium will finally be fully adaptable to soccer.