Kansas City hosts six World Cup matches at Arrowhead Stadium, and it may be the tournament's most underrated host city: a compact, friendly, affordable place with legendary barbecue, a strong football culture and one of the loudest stadiums in American sport. Fans who choose Kansas City get big-match atmosphere without big-city prices or hassles. Here is how to enjoy it.

Arrowhead Stadium, home of the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs, is renowned as one of the loudest outdoor stadiums in the world, with crowd noise records to prove it. For the tournament it hosts six matches, and the atmosphere promises to be extraordinary. The stadium sits in the Truman Sports Complex east of downtown, so reaching it requires a shuttle, rideshare or rental car rather than a simple subway ride: plan your match-day transport in advance and allow plenty of time.

Downtown Kansas City is compact and walkable, with a free streetcar running through the centre, connecting the River Market, downtown and Union Station. Beyond the centre, the city is car-friendly, and rideshares are affordable by host-city standards. For stadium trips, official shuttles and park-and-ride services are the most reliable options, and many fans combine a downtown base with shuttle travel on match days. If you rent a car, parking downtown is generally easy and inexpensive.

Downtown Kansas City offers the best base for most fans: hotels near the Power and Light District put you amid bars, restaurants and nightlife, while the River Market area offers a quieter, more local feel with markets and cafes. Both are walkable and served by the streetcar. Kansas City's hotel prices are among the lowest of the US host cities, which is a major advantage for fans watching their budget, and the savings can fund extra matches or a longer stay.

Kansas City barbecue is a point of civic pride and a genuine attraction: slow-smoked meats, distinctive sauces and legendary establishments that draw visitors from across the country. Beyond barbecue, the city offers a growing food scene, from the River Market's international stalls to the Crossroads district's restaurants and breweries. A food crawl between matches is essential, and asking locals for their favourite barbecue joint is a conversation starter that rarely disappoints.

Kansas City is known as the City of Fountains, with more than 200 of them, and its jazz heritage is celebrated in the 18th and Vine district. Union Station is a beautifully restored landmark worth visiting, and the city's museums and parks offer pleasant non-match days. The compact scale means you can see a lot without rushing, and the friendly atmosphere makes it easy to strike up conversations with locals and fellow travelling fans alike.

Beyond barbecue, Kansas City has a thriving craft beer scene, with breweries clustered in the Crossroads and River Market districts, many offering tours and tastings. Live music, rooted in the city's jazz heritage, fills bars and clubs most nights, and the combination of a brewery crawl and a jazz set makes a perfect non-match evening. Ask at your hotel or a local bar for that night's recommendations: the scene changes constantly, and local knowledge beats any guidebook. Pace yourself, though: match days come early.

Kansas City offers the World Cup at its most welcoming: a deafening stadium, world-famous barbecue, a walkable downtown and prices that respect your budget. Fans who give it a chance often leave calling it their favourite stop of the tournament.