LAWRENCE, Kan. (WDAF) – World Cup 2026 and its games in the Kansas City metro will impact outlying communities as well.

Tourism groups in Lawrence are preparing local hotels, restaurants and stores for travelers who are likely to come calling next year. The trick is, they're not sure how much sprawl will extend from the projected 600,000 soccer tourists who are projected to travel to Kansas City next June.

Downtown Lawrence is a 45-minute drive from Kansas City International Airport.

Lawrence’s 80 restaurants have been instructed that demand will be high, as soccer fans will seek places to dine and sleep. That includes the Burger Stand, a popular spot on Lawrence’s beloved Mass Street, known for its burgers and beers.

“We're definitely expecting the radius effect to be pretty large,” N

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