Kansas City, KS – As the countdown to the FIFA World Cup begins, millions of soccer enthusiasts are gearing up to traverse North America, and businesses in the host cities are bracing themselves for a surge in international visitors.
In Kansas City, a renowned barbecue establishment is anticipating a global crowd eager to savor their signature burnt ends, brisket, and the much-loved Z Man sandwich amidst the excitement of the matches.
Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que, housed in a repurposed gas station in Kansas City, Kansas, stands as a culinary landmark, drawing food lovers from across the globe to its doors.
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The restaurant’s famed Z Man sandwich, accompanied by fries, is a staple attraction at Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que, enticing visitors with its savory flavors. (Olivianna Calmes)
According to the restaurant’s management, many travelers consider this BBQ hotspot an essential stop on their journey, eager to experience the iconic flavors firsthand.
“We’ll have people who show up, get dropped off by Uber, put their bags behind the counter over there and enjoy,” said Victor Brummel, general manager at Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que gas station location.
Customers eat barbecue inside Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que as businesses in World Cup host cities prepare for increased tourism. (Olivianna Calmes)
The FIFA World Cup is expected to draw millions of visitors across the United States, Canada and Mexico, with many fans traveling between multiple host cities during the tournament. Kansas City will host six matches, including a quarterfinal.
Joe’s said it is already preparing for one of the busiest stretches in the restaurant’s history.
“We are doing a total of 185 slabs of ribs today,” one staff member said during a tour of the restaurant’s smokehouse. “For World Cup, for instance, where we’re going to prep probably 400 at each location.”
An employee prepares ribs inside the kitchen at Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que. (Olivianna Calmes)
The restaurant also plans to open on Sundays during World Cup games.
“The only thing that’s gotten us to open on Sundays before this is Patrick Mahomes and the Super Bowl,” Brummel said.
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Along with adding staff and increasing food production, Joe’s is also opening another similar restaurant across the street ahead of the tournament.
Customers already visiting the restaurant say it is a can’t-miss destination for anyone coming to Kansas City.
A barbecue platter is prepared at Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que in Kansas City, Kansas. (Olivianna Calmes)
The tournament opens in Mexico City on June 11 and will feature matches across 16 host cities in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
This is the largest World Cup ever with 48 teams and 104 matches.
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