With the Winter Olympics in Italy now concluded, attention locally now shifts to another global event, this time on US soil, the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The United States will host the largest soccer event for just the second time in history, and first time since 1994, this upcoming summer, with games set to be played in various locations in the US, Canada and Mexico, including just 90 minutes from the core KVOE listening area in Kansas City. With a sea of soccer fans set to be so close, local agencies have been hard at work the past several weeks developing programs and strategies to draw some of those fans to Emporia and the surrounding communities.
At Visit Emporia, Director Matt Fowler says they are taking a data-driven approach to bring in new visitors.
Fowler also says they are looking to take a balanced approach to attracting both foreign and domestic travelers, although he says domestic fans are likely where they will see the most success.
For Emporia Main Street, Director Casey Woods says the World Cup comes at a great time locally, as there will be a plethora of unique local events coinciding with the FIFA activities.
Woods says having so many local activities in such a short time frame is important, emphasizing what he calls the “rule of four” for attracting and retaining visitors to the community.
In addition to finding activities to do while in Emporia, visitors may need a place to lay their head, a fact well known to Gufler Mansion owner Ben Kohl, who tells KVOE News they have been increasing their advertising through social media in hopes of attracting possible customers. Kohl says, like Main Street and Visit Emporia, they are looking to target many of the fans who will be making the trip, noting Emporia is in a prime location to do so.
Unlike others, however, Kohl says the Gufler is also looking to attract those individuals who may not be as amped up for the surge of soccer coming to the area over the summer.
Kansas City will play host to six World Cup matches inside Arrowhead Stadium. Matches will include Argentina vs Algeria, Tunisia vs Netherlands, Ecuador vs Curacao and Algeria vs Austria, as well as one match in the round of 32 and the World Cup quarter-finals.
