What to Buy in Kansas City: Art, Photography, and Local Souvenirs for FIFA World Cup 2026 Visitors
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Kansas City is hosting FIFA World Cup matches in June and July 2026, bringing an estimated 650,000 visitors to the metro area. If you are among them, here is what you need to know about one of America's most underrated cities -- and how to take a piece of it home with you.
What Makes Kansas City Special
Kansas City sits at the geographic center of the United States. It is a city of fountains (more than any city except Rome), barbecue, jazz, and architecture that spans from Beaux-Arts train stations to Art Deco towers. For a photographer, it is one of the most rewarding cities in the Midwest -- the light, the skylines, and the civic spaces are built for the camera.
Must-See KC Locations Near World Cup Venues
Union Station -- One of the largest train stations in America, opened in 1914 and restored through a $250 million community effort. The annual Memorial Day Symphony concert lights the facade in red, white, and blue for 50,000 people. Located minutes from the World Cup venue area.
The Scout at Penn Valley Park -- The single best viewpoint of the Kansas City skyline. A bronze statue from 1922 overlooks the entire downtown from a hilltop in Penn Valley Park. Golden hour here is unforgettable.
Liberty Memorial and the National WWI Museum -- The nation's premier World War I museum sits on the highest point in Kansas City's cultural corridor, offering commanding views of Union Station and the skyline.
Powell Gardens -- Thirty miles east of downtown, 970 acres of botanical gardens featuring an E. Fay Jones-designed chapel, outdoor sculptures, and water gardens. A hidden Kansas City treasure most tourists never discover.
Take Kansas City Home With You
The Story Visual Kansas City Photography collection features fine art photographs of these landmarks and more, available as instant digital downloads. Whether you want a desktop wallpaper, Samsung Frame TV art, or a high-resolution file for printing, every image is available in multiple sizes and license types.
All photographs are by Roger Ridpath, a Kansas City-based photographer with over 35 years of experience and the author of Kansas City, Missouri: A Photographic Portrait.