Welcome to KC, world

The World Cup officially arrives in Kansas City on June 16. We’ll host six matches between now and July 11 — four group stage games, a Round of 32, and a quarterfinal at Kansas City Stadium (Arrowhead). Fans are pouring in from Argentina, the Netherlands, Algeria, the UK, and beyond. In other words, for a few weeks this summer, Kansas City becomes one of the most international places on the planet.

It’s a strange and wonderful thing to host the world. People who never thought about Kansas City will be here, eating our barbecue, riding our streetcar, hearing our jazz, and forming an opinion about us that they’ll carry home. We’re about to be somebody’s “I’ve been there” story for the rest of their lives.

That hits me a little, because hosting is exactly what we do well here. Kansas City has always been a city that welcomes people — that treats a stranger like a guest worth feeding. The World Cup isn’t going to teach us that. It’s going to show the world something we already knew.

So if you’re local, keep being that good host. Say hi to someone wearing a jersey you don’t recognize. Point a lost-looking visitor in the right direction. Smile at the chaos.

And if you’re traveling in for a match — welcome. We’re glad you’re here. And let us know if you need a good place to explore – or a BBQ recommendation!