Kansas City Stadium unveils World Cup transformation ahead of opening matches

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - The first look inside Arrowhead Stadium revealed the full extent of the venue’s World Cup transformation, with FIFA branding covering the facility and the Chiefs’ signature red replaced by World Cup blue.

A media tour Monday showcased the completed changes ahead of matches that begin next week. The venue will be known as Kansas City Stadium during the World Cup.

FIFA logos and signage now cover much of the stadium, including the Ring of Honor. The soccer pitch, which required the removal of approximately 3,500 seats, has shifted the center of the playing surface. The stadium will still accommodate more than 65,000 fans.

The Chiefs’ game day locker room has been transformed for the international tournament. The space has been reduced to about half its original size to accommodate smaller soccer rosters, and the signature Chiefs red has been replaced with World Cup blue.

“I think even for the people who actually come to the Chiefs, it’s a different stadium. It’s a different format to different colors. But the essence is here,” Luiz Andre Mello, FIFA World Cup 2026 Venue Director of Operations, said.

Chiefs Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer Matt Kenny said the transformation fulfills a decades-old vision.

“Our founder had a vision to host World Cup back when it was in the US in the 90s,” Kenny said. “Here we are in 2026. And, you know, we’re able to fulfill that dream.”

Preparation for the World Cup began two years before the recent transformation, with construction projects to accommodate the wider field, update LED lights and install vacuum ventilation and broadcast infrastructure.

The venue takeover this winter and spring focused on branding, signage and exterior hospitality areas. Kenny said the project has stayed largely on course through thousands of hours of work and coordination with the Sports Authority, the Royals, the organizing committee and FIFA.

Fans attending matches will notice differences in the arrival process, with thousands of people moving by bus or rideshare rather than personal vehicles.

Mello said Kansas City’s status as the smallest market selected to host matches has worked in the city’s favor.

“Since you guys were working so hard to get the people here, everywhere that I see, it’s like people are actually enjoying receiving all the fans,” Mello said. “If you go to bigger markets, New York, LA, they have a lot of different big events every time. So the fact that we have something in KC, I think the people in here like proud of that.”

FIFA officials said Kansas City Stadium will be ready to welcome fans when matches begin next week.