The Kansas City Metro is gearing up for what will inevitably be a few short weeks of, albeit largely enjoyable, chaos and commotion. Across June and July Kansas City will host six 2026 FIFA World Cup games including 1 semi-final at the Chiefs Stadium. Several team camps are targeting Kansas City as their base of operations, as well. An estimated 650,000 visitors are expected to flood the region over the course of the tournament. Airbnbs and VRBO’s within 4-5 hours drive of the metro and being readied at this time. Here’s how the 2026 FIFA World Cup is likely to impact dog owners in the Kansas City metro area.
Big Crowds
Think parking around downtown is already a problem? It’s about to get much much worse. Between road closures for special events, international visitors who may not be familiar with local driving norms, and general influx of people unfamiliar with the region, traffic will be a challenge at best. If you plan to visit these festivities, leaving your dog in your car in the June and July summer heat is simply not an option. I bet there’s going to be ladies with window breakers on hunt everywhere ready to rescue your dog from certain death. Make appropriate arrangements to have your dog safely attended or kenneled while you’re enjoying the once in a lifetime opportunities.
World Cup guests Will be Everywhere
Attendees won’t just be at the stadium. There won’t be a vacant Airbnb within 4-5 hours of the metro. Yes, people will definitely drive THAT far the day of to attend a world cup game. This is going to impact your neighborhood walks, too. People could very well be traveling with pets, bringing an influx of unfamiliar dogs into the normal hangouts. Make sure your dog is wearing their collar and identification, in case they get loose. A microchip is always useful to aid your dog’s return in the event they get loose. This goes for both local residents and those traveling with pets. Secure your dog with tie outs or a leash and supervise them well, even when in a fenced yard.
Local restaurants will host watch parties and it may sound fun (or convenient) to you to bring the dog along. The reality is that your furry friend may find triggers around them that aren’t normally present. Don’t ruin a fun hangout by taking your dog on the busiest day in history. It’s okay to avoid walks or parks during these few weeks. Plan on some new around the house activities for enrichment in case the normal routine is disrupted. This is a great excuse to order that new puzzle toy you’ve had your eye on!
It’s also going to take longer to drive in and out of the city during the days surrounding the games and training camps. Make arrangements for puppies to be let out if your travel is impacted. Expect major travel routes in and out of the metro to be heavily congested. It’s just going to take longer to get places. Have patience! Especially for the pup waiting patiently for you to come home.
Want to Take your Dog on a Date this year?
Make the dream of taking your dog along to public outings a reality. Your dog can wait quietly while you enjoy happy hour on a patio or walk the local art shows or farmers market. You can’t control what other people do with their dogs, but you can teach your dog how to be a great citizen! We can help.
Housing Considerations
In preparation for the added demand for housing during the 2026 World Cup, most cities have expanded opportunities for short term rentals. People will be renting out rooms, basements, and both multi and single family units on a scale never seen before. If you rent an accommodation that shares communal space, there will be unfamiliar people and potentially unfamiliar dogs using those communal spaces. Short-term renters may not hold themselves accountable. It may be worth it to bring an extra poopbag or 2 to help keep the space you use clean. No, it’s not technically your responsibility, but your landlord probably isn’t going to staff an extra person just to be on dogdoo duty.
Even if you’re not traveling with a pet, expect most short term rentals to have minimum stay policies during the World Cup. Housing could easily cost upwards of $1000 or more per game! The cheap stuff has probably already been booked. Landlords, get those surveillance cameras installed yesterday. You’ll probably want to make sure your leasing agreement clearly states that there’s no refund for guests caught sneaking in four-legged accessories.
If you are traveling with a dog make sure you check the rental agreement for pet related considerations. It is very possible that many units will refuse to house dogs during the World Cup, even if they are normally allowed. They will likely charge more per pet, if they do allow them. An AirBnB host has the opportunity to make as much over the world cup schedule as they would in a year of regular renting. They’re not going to sacrifice that possibility on the chance your dog could destroy the property or otherwise decrease it’s rentability. Landlords will be watching for breeches of contract so you’re not likely to sneak your pup past any onsite cameras. Doing so could cost you your lodging (likely without a refund) and leave you with zero other options besides sleeping in your car.
Renting a Spare Room?
Got a spare bedroom and the desire to make a quick buck? That’s right, the short term rental market will be infused with a wave of 1st time landlords. Think your dog is everyone’s best friend? What if they bite the random stranger that suddenly appears in their hallway? Claims that may be covered in non-business associated transactions may leave you vulnerable to liability in the midst of business transactions. Check with your insurance provider for options that can cover your bases. Certainly best to implement some precautions to ensure that your pets don’t come face to face with a short-term guest.
Dog Friendly? Get real
Let’s just say (hypothetically, of course) that some enterprising entrepreneur somewhere has the GREAT idea to host a World Cup Dog Party. Brilliant! Let’s drag scores of poorly socialized and overwhelmed canines into a (likely) confined space full of (likely) inebriated guests. Sounds like fun, right? Maybe for the drunk guy who’s been needing to ‘socialize’ his adolescent 100 pound Labrador… Mix.
Just because someone is hosting it, doesn’t mean you need to attend it. Especially with the fluffball who trusts you with their life and loves you unconditionally. Experiences like the 2026 FIFA world Cup are best enjoyed without precious cargo along for the ride. You’re dog is not going to enjoy any such outing. While, yes, they will be exhausted, it’s not the kind of beneficial exhaustion that we’re looking for in good dog stewardship. Depleted from learning about the world in safe and controlled doses, no problem. Shut down from constant overwhelm, no good.
Misprepresenting Your Dog
Many people rely on the assistance of a service dog to support their independence. Taking your pet dog to a non-pet friendly space jeopardizes these people’s independence. Reactivity, persistent fear, inappropriate elimination, or resentment are signs that your dog is not appropriate for public access needs. Misrepresenting a pet dog as a service dog dismisses the rights of a protected demographic and creates unnecessary stress for everyone.
While, emotional support dogs are warranted some housing and travel accommodations, they are generally not granted public access rights. Having an emotional support dog is not a reason to take them into public spaces even if you bring them along on this World Cup adventure. Service dogs undergo extensive socialization and desensitization to public spaces in order to perform efficiently in distracting environments. People often act inappropriately toward dogs in public spaces, regardless of their role. A business or event is within their right to ask you to remove your dog from a public space if your dog is displaying problematic or aggressive behavior even if they are a service dog.
Hosting Events
The same considerations stand for every other potential gathering throughout the year. Some dogs thrive on social contact, most dogs are tolerant of it to a certain extent, and some dogs are entirely intolerant. Forcing an anxious dog or puppy into fast paced social greetings sets them up for unnecessary failure. Consider speaking to your vet about short acting anti-anxiety meds to use during parties. Put baby gates or exercise pens around your dog’s space to keep overfriendly guests at bay. As long as your dog has an option to retreat they will generally opt for that over confrontation. Consider appropriate interventions for dogs who display resource guarding or have a history of biting.
is your Dog World Cup Ready?
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