Host cities across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico are showcasing regional culinary specialties to welcome fans arriving for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
This initiative aims to highlight the diverse cultural identities of the host regions while providing a significant economic boost to small businesses. By integrating local flavors into the tournament experience, cities hope to create a lasting impression of their unique heritage on a global audience.
The tournament will feature 104 matches across 16 cities [5]. To accommodate the influx of visitors, organizers have established 13 FIFA Fan Festival sites [1] where local restaurants and vendors can present signature dishes. These offerings include a variety of regional staples such as tacos, cheesesteaks, poutine, and empanadas.
In the U.S., vendors in Kansas City, Missouri, and Overland Park, Kansas, are scaling their operations to meet the expected demand. Local vendors in the Kansas City area have prepared 100,000 empanadas to serve the crowds [2].
Beverage providers are also preparing for the surge in traffic. One Kansas City fan-festival vendor ordered 1,000 pounds of coffee beans [3] and 30,000 coffee cups [4] to ensure they can meet the needs of arriving supporters.
These culinary efforts are part of a broader strategy to use the sporting event as a platform for cultural exchange. By pairing the high-visibility matches with local food and specialty coffee, host cities are attempting to turn a sporting event into a comprehensive tourism experience.
“100,000 empanadas”
The emphasis on local culinary identity suggests that the 2026 World Cup is being leveraged not just as a sports competition, but as a massive regional marketing campaign. By decentralizing the food experience across 16 cities and 13 fan festivals, the organizers are attempting to distribute the economic benefits of the tournament beyond the stadiums and into the local small-business ecosystems.
