Kansas City, Missouri, is bracing for the FIFA World Cup, yet hotel bookings are lagging behind typical summer levels, raising concerns among local tourism officials. Andrea O’Hara, executive director of the Hotel and Lodging Association of Greater Kansas City, noted that many hotels still have rooms available, despite expectations of 650,000 visitors and an economic boost of over $600 million. A report from the American Hotel and Lodging Association revealed that 85% of Kansas City hotel members reported lower-than-expected bookings. Many visitors are booking only for a few days around specific match days, rather than for the tournament's duration. However, local hotel managers, like Jeff Keeley of the InterContinental Kansas City, remain hopeful that reservations will increase as the event nears. The unique structure of the tournament, with knockout stage matches, may lead to last-minute bookings as fans finalize their plans. Kansas City is still seen as a trending destination, with positive indicators suggesting that visitor numbers may rise as the tournament approaches.