KC's World Cup test run begins 3 months out
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The countdown clock is under 100 days. Photo: Travis Meier/Axios
From public practices with international teams to a potential visit from Team USA, World Cup organizers in KC are unveiling new details ahead of this summer's events.
Why it matters: We're roughly three months away from the start of the tournament, a six-week-long party where locals and fans, domestic and international, will converge around the biggest sport in the world.
The big picture: Local organizers are honing in on the matchday and team experiences, as they continue meeting with team delegations and plan for hosting more than 12 teams across six matches.
- KC2026 president and CEO Pam Kramer says these final days are about testing from the point of view of the guest, whether it's a team, a fan or a head of state.
Zoom in: Kramer says representatives from the Netherlands embassy visited last week during the Big 12 tournament.
- They saw a K-State rally and were "really enamored with the atmosphere," Kramer says.
- "Their reaction was, 'If that is what happens for college sports, we can't wait to see what happens for the World Cup.'"
The Curaçao soccer federation also visited — a team of two representing the smallest country to ever qualify for the tournament.
- "They will endear themselves to our fans here," Kramer says, adding they share KC's attitude of being a small player competing on a global level.
Context: Curaçao will play Ecuador in Kansas City on June 20 as part of the group stage matches.
- And four teams — Argentina, England, the Netherlands and Algeria — will base camp in and around KC.
The intrigue: Kramer says there will be one community day training session for each team based here, and attendance will be free — but details on when and how many fans will be permitted are not yet available.
Zoom out: Kansas City will host two knockout round matches: a round of 32 match and a quarterfinal.
- That means additional teams will have potential pathways through Kansas City, including Team USA, Kramer says.
- Additional potential teams include Portugal, Austria and Curaçao.
What's next: Kramer says registration to attend Fan Fest downtown will open this month.
By the numbers
Volunteer hopefuls are now receiving their assignments, organizers say, part of a months-long process that began with applications last summer and moved to tryouts in the fall.
- It's part of a massive logistical effort to welcome the world and get people to where they want to go.
15,000 applicants will be pared to 5,000 volunteers, Kramer says.
- Organizers say the role acceptance rate — where folks decide if they want the job they're given — is 79% as of Monday.
- Training will kick off in April.
At least 215 buses have been secured to operate a transit network called ConnectKC26, which will shuttle guests to and from the airport, downtown, across the metro and to the stadium on gameday.
- KC2026's bus partner, Transportation Management Services, is in charge of hiring.
What they're saying: Kramer says they're working on testing details, like making sure "the buses that we lease can make the turns on their routes."
The bottom line: From the misters and shade at Fan Fest to the folks behind the wheels on the bus, World Cup planning has entered its final stages.