Kansas City to Host Free Fan Festival for 2026 World Cup

Way back in June 2022, Kansas City made history. They were named by FIFA as one of the 10 United States cities that would host games for the 2026 World Cup. Not Chicago, not Denver, not St. Louis, but Kansas City! It was a moment that made Kansas Citians beam with joy.

Last year, it was announced that KC would host six games, including four in the group stage, one in the round of 32 and a quarterfinal game. There are more milestones to come, as the group stage draw is happening on December 5th, but an announcement came on Tuesday.

KC2026 announced they would be holding a FREE fan festival at the National World War I Museum and Memorial.

The setup will feature a 65-foot-tall entrance with the famous KC heart to access the south lawn of the National WWI Museum and Memorial. There will also be a massive, primary video board that is 45 feet wide and 25 feet tall, along with additional screens along the side. Fans will be able to watch the games and other live performances.

The setup will allow 25,000 participants in at a time and the venue will be open for at least 18 of the match days for the 39-day tournament, including the days of all the United States Men’s National Team games, all the days KC is hosting matches at Arrowhead Stadium and other select days.

According to The Athletic, FIFA offered host cities the opportunity to charge for entrance into the fan fest, but host committee chief executive Pam Kramer said Kansas City elected not to.

“We want people from our community across the region and from around the world to be able to experience it,” Kramer said. “We want them to leave feeling the hospitality that we have. We want to welcome the world, and we want to welcome the people in our communities who have made this opportunity possible.”

Obviously, sponsorship makes this possible. Black & Veatch, an engineering and construction company based in Kansas City, are the primary sponsor.

With 25,000 people in one area, safety is a concern. The committee has already gone to great lengths to make the environment as safe as possible.

“We’re approaching the fan fest much like a stadium environment,” Kramer said. “Our capacity will be 25,000 people, and we have 26 days between our first match and our last match. So it is a month of activation. We’ll have a secure perimeter. There will be magnetometers much like a stadium. We’re communicating in advance what you can bring and what you can’t bring. We will have a clear bag policy. We will be making sure that once inside the perimeter, we have things like shade and misting stations, because that’s an important part of safety, too. I think you can keep people safe and secure while also preserving that celebratory environment.”

How does one attend?

KC2026 has announced it will post registration information to its website and social channels in early December. Fans can register their interest or look into purchasing a premium ticket with a VIP experience that includes:

• Guaranteed entrance
• Exclusive shaded viewing zone
• Private bar
• Additional food options
• Limited access merchandise

The KC Soccer Journal will bring you more on the FIFA Fan Festival and the 2026 World Cup as it draws closer.