photo by: Bremen Keasey/Journal-World

A display at the Lawrence boutique Eccentricity, 716 Massachusetts St., showcases World Cup related gear, including custom designed Algerian flags and shirts.

After years of planning and waiting patiently to be on the world’s stage, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is now less than two weeks away.

With six matches in Kansas City, four teams staying in the area — including the Algerian national team using Lawrence as its base camp — and the expectation that thousands of visitors will descend on the region, local organizations like Score Lawrence, the group helping organize the city’s preparations, have been planning for the summer event.

From special public art fixtures that feature a soccer theme to partnering with local event organizers to plan six events and public watch parties, local leaders have looked for ways to build excitement. Now that the monthlong tournament kicks off July 11 with the opening match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City, local Lawrence businesses are also catching soccer fever.

From sports bars, yarn shops and boutiques, here is a look at how some Lawrence businesses are getting into the World Cup spirit.

ADDING “OOMPH” FOR SPORTS FANS

Outside of Johnny’s Tavern’s North Lawrence location hangs a handy red arrow along the street pointing you in the right direction. Ahead of the World Cup, they added some more arrows outside that point toward other visiting countries.

Rick Renfro, the owner of Johnny’s, put up a sign that gives direction and mileage of how the four teams that chose to stay in the region — Algeria, Argentina, The Netherlands and England — are from home. And, of course, another pointer to the restaurant.

Although Renfro said he hoped the sign could be a little bigger, he said each of the 14 Johnny’s locations will have “little nuggets” like that paying homage to the World Cup. At Johnny’s West, 721 Wakarusa Drive, there was an oversized bobblehead of Argentine legend Lionel Messi that was provided by Michelob Ultra, one of the leading sponsors of the tournament. Additionally, all the locations will have the flags of the countries staying in Kansas City and Lawrence put up in the coming days.

photo by: Bremen Keasey/Journal-World

A sign outside of Johnny’s Tavern in North Lawrence, 401 N 2nd St., lists how many thousands of miles the four countries whose teams are staying in the region during the World Cup are from Lawrence. Johnny’s is just across the sidewalk.

A short drive south, the Red Lyon Tavern, 944 Massachusetts St., is ready for the World Cup with a whole new area. The bar — which has long been a hub for soccer in Lawrence — recently expanded this spring, and will have even more space for the biggest World Cup ever.

The new space, the Red Lyon Reserve, is available to be rented out for a private event. But when there is not a booking, it will be open for business. Surrounded by Sporting Kansas City and Kansas City Current kits, US Men’s National Team logos, mini flags from participating countries and even an inflated replica of the World Cup Trophy, soccer fans will feel right at home.

Whether you are a diehard soccer fan or looking to soak up the World Cup atmosphere, Renfro said the match days at the bars will add a great experience in the summer.

“This just adds a little extra oomph,” Renfro said.

photo by: Bremen Keasey/Journal-World

An inflatable version of the World Cup trophy is on display at the Red Lyon Tavern, 944 Massachusetts St. The bar, long a haven for soccer fans, recently added additional space.

CRAFTING A CONNECTION TO THE WORLD

While it makes sense for sports bars to be ramping up ahead of the tournament, shops along Massachusetts Street are finding ways to channel the World Cup energy into their offerings.

Waxman Candles, 609 Massachusetts St., created special candles that celebrate the tournament and the Algerian national team.

Elliot DeCosta, an employee and self-described “candle enthusiast,” told the Journal-World the store came up with three special candles: one shaped like a soccer ball, one that features “sporty scents” like grass and leather and another that looks like the national animal of Algeria — a fennec fox.

DeCosta said the Waxman team came up with around eight designs to figure out the best way to depict the fox. At one point, the final product of one design “looked (more) like a chihuahua.” But eventually, the team found the right design to capture the “super cute” creature.

DeCosta said the overall process of brainstorming ideas and workshopping the right designs for the candles went over weeks, but it was fulfilling to see the team’s ideas come into shape.

“It is fun to channel the energy into something meaningful,” DeCosta said.

photo by: Bremen Keasey/Journal-World

Candles crafted by Waxman Candles, 609 Massachusetts St., represent different aspects of the World Cup. The designs include candles shaped like a Fennec Fox, Algeria’s national animal.

Another craft store — The Yarn Barn, 930 Massachusetts St. — is giving fans a way to create a World Cup memory. The shop is offering kits to knit scarves or hats for the four teams staying in the region.

Anna Hurla helped design patterns and include the right types of yarn for the kits that represent the teams. Hurla said since scarves are a “big soccer thing,” it made sense for the store to give fans the option to design them.

Hurla said the hat designs can be knit or crocheted, but the scarves can only be knitted. The store also has samples of the final product of each design on display.

Although Hurla said she is not super into sports herself, she knows that a lot of people are excited for the tournament.

“(Many people) are willing to get something to support the team,” Hurla said.

Other downtown storefronts are making room for soccer. The boutique Eccentricity, 716 Massachusetts St., is offering Algerian pennants and shirts designed by Holman Needle and Ink alongside other soccer memorabilia — including friendship bracelets themed for different countries. Additionally, Ruth DeWitt, the director of community relations for Explore Lawrence, told the Journal-World that they will open a temporary space at 1026 Massachusetts St. for visitors and volunteers with Score Lawrence.

photo by: Bremen Keasey/Journal-World

Yarn kits that can craft scarves or hats in the colors of the four teams staying in the region are on sale The Yarn Barn, 930 Massachusetts St.

GLOBAL INFLUENCE: IN CONES AND ON CANVAS

A special tournament calls for special flavors, and the Kansas City-based ice cream chain Betty Rae’s is bringing limited time World Cup flavors to Lawrence.

The ice cream shop announced in April it was creating themed flavors for teams staying in Kansas City and playing at Arrowhead Stadium during the tournament. It also launched limited edition World Cup-themed merchandise.

At the Lawrence location, 4821 W. Sixth St., the shop had two of the international themed flavors ready to go: the London Fog, an Earl Grey-based ice cream with a blend of cream and sugar representing England, and the Baklawa, a honey ice cream with phyllo dough, almond paste and crushed almonds to represent Algeria.

Employees at the shop told the Journal-World they expect to have the other flavors at the store by the start of the tournament. Those flavors include Alfajores, dulce de leche ice cream with pieces of a traditional biscuit pastry representing Argentina, and Stroopwaffel, Stroop-syrup ice cream with broken waffle pieces that represents the Netherlands.

photo by: Contributed/Photo by Lynn Ward

Flags and biological specimens sit on display at the KU Natural History Museum’s special exhibition called “Collections from Around the World.”

KU’s museums are also getting in the global spirit.

The University of Kansas Natural History Museum has a special exhibition called “Collections from Around the World” that features specimens from all the countries coming to Kansas City for the tournament. The specimens are brought together in a design inspired by a “cabinet of curiosity,” and the display features everything from jarred fish preserved in alcohol, dried botanical specimens mounted on paper, pinned butterflies, fossils and prepared bird skins.

The Spencer Art Museum will similarly highlight each country that is staying or playing in Kansas City during its exhibition “Welcoming the World to Lawrence.” The special exhibition will be on display throughout the tournament, and it hopes to “celebrate the power of art and sport to unite communities across continents,” according to its website.