Kansas City was officially named as the host city for the largest event in World Cup history, with Canada and Mexico selected to host matches across the United States. The global sports governing body, FIFA, announced on Thursday that 16 bids were chosen for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Vancouver, Toronto, Seattle, the San Francisco Bay Area, Philadelphia, New York/New Jersey, Monterrey, Miami, Mexico City, Los Angeles, Kansas City, Houston, Guadalajara, Dallas, Boston, and Atlanta (16) serve as the cities hosting the event.
I can’t wait to welcome the world to Kansas City. Kansas City is the soccer capital of America: to illustrate the stage on a global level, it will generate hundreds of dollars for our region and bring jobs to our residents. Today’s success culminated in our team’s effort to bring the 2026 World Cup to Kansas City, which is one of the few American cities preparing to be a host.
The matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be held at Arrowhead Stadium, located in Jackson County, Missouri. Arrowhead Stadium, known as the Truman Sports Complex, not only holds the distinction of being the loudest stadium in the world but has also hosted the last four AFC Championships. It is the home of the two-time Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.
Based on a research, host cities can anticipate an increase of up to $620 million in economic activity as a consequence of World Cup games. The FIFA World Cup 2026, which will showcase an unprecedented 80 matches, will be the inaugural tournament hosted by three nations and will involve 48 participating countries. In 2018, a total of 3.572 billion viewers tuned in to watch the World Cup, while approximately 6.8 million tourists visited the host cities. Taking place once every four years, the FIFA World Cup stands as the most esteemed and extensively watched sporting event worldwide.
Kathy Nelson, the President and CEO of the Kansas City Sports Commission and Visit KC, expressed her immense pride in the efforts made to establish Kansas City as a global hub for sports tourism. She described the designation as a significant achievement for the city, the bid committee, and all those involved. Being chosen as a host city for the largest sporting event in history, amidst FIFA’s most competitive selection process, is a remarkable feat.
The strategic vision presented by Katherine Holland, Director of KC2026 Bid, led to the collaboration of many key stakeholders in securing the largest event in Kansas City’s history, the Fest Fan and partners hotel sites training proposed including. This effort was delivered through the support of an Executive Committee, consisting of representatives from civic and government officials as well as executives from a powerhouse group of sports organizations. The bid was co-chaired by Cliff Illig, owner and principal of Kansas City Sporting, and CEO Chairman of the Kansas City Chiefs.
Throughout the Midwest, the state of Kansas has received endorsements from nine youth soccer associations for their bid in KC2026. Additionally, they plan to open a new downtown stadium in 2024 and a new training ground in the following week. Over the past 15 years, the Kansas City region has invested more than $600 million in soccer facilities, establishing itself as a recognized soccer destination with a rich history of hosting international competitions and winning championship teams. With a growing collection of world-class venues, Kansas City has earned the recognition as the Soccer Capital of America, showcasing its unparalleled passion for the sport and inclusive sports culture.
In Kansas City, the upcoming $1.5 billion cutting-edge solitary terminal at KCI Airport will initiate in the following year prior to the 2023 NFL Draft taking place in Kansas City, which is prominently recognized as the Heart of America. Kansas City is the most centrally situated prominent urban region in the country with 55 million individuals within a day’s drive and both shores within a three-hour air travel.
Kansas City has become a national leader in public transportation, offering fare-free public transit as the first major American city. The extension of the KC Streetcar, scheduled to be completed by 2025, will enhance access to many of the city’s top cultural attractions, including the Country Club Plaza and the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, as well as the National World War I Museum.
The organizing committee representing the Kansas City’s local delegation from the District of Light & Power City will travel to New York this weekend to participate in workshops as part of the preparations for the highly anticipated next phase of the World Cup 2026 FIFA. The process of bidding, which began in 2017 with a total of 44 candidate cities, culminated today with a celebration at Live! KC in Kansas City.
For the latest local developments in the buildup to the FIFA World Cup, follow and visit KC2026 on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.
About the Sports Commission and Foundation in Kansas City.
The mission of the Kansas City Sports Foundation & Commission is to drive overall economic impact and enhance the quality of life in the region by implementing a sports strategy that promotes visibility and creates opportunities.