Kansas City Unveils Plans for FIFA Fan Festival

Kansas City has unveiled plans for its FIFA Fan Festival for fans coming to experience the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and has announced that Black & Veatch, a Kansas City-based engineering, construction and consulting company, will sponsor the local organizing committee. As a partner of the host committee, the company will help build out the concept of the festival.

“Our mission at Black & Veatch is to build a world of difference, and it all started here in our hometown,” said Black & Veatch Chairman and CEO Mario Azar. “Over the years, we’ve developed human critical infrastructure for power, water, data and communications in Kansas City, and now we are proud to support this first-of-a-kind FIFA World Cup experience here. This is an international celebration of sports culture, and our employee-owners are thrilled to welcome the world to Kansas City and bring the excitement of the World Cup to the Midwest,”

For its fan festival, KC2026 is aiming to create a visitor and fan experience that reflects the destination with the free festival to be held at the National WWI Museum and Memorial in June and July 2026.

“Black & Veatch shares our deep commitment to the region — a belief in our people, our places and our promise,” said Pam Kramer, CEO of KC2026. “We’re united by a shared work ethic, authentic hospitality and a ‘get it done’ mindset that has allowed us to boldly plan for next summer’s World Cup.”

Plans include a 65-foot-tall heart-shaped entrance to the National WWI Museum and Memorial’s south lawn. Kansas City-based architecture firm Populous, another sponsor of the organizing committee, has designed the experience, aiming for comfort, accessibility and enjoyment for diehard soccer fans and those who are “soccer-curious.” The festival will feature two large stages and nearly 4,500 square feet of video boards.

“Populous takes pride in designing the places where people love to be together, and no event unites the global community like the World Cup,” said Kelly Holton, senior principal at Populous. “We continue to design venues and experiences that enrich the fan journey, like the FIFA Fan Festival, and we look forward to seeing Kansas City on the global stage as our city welcomes fans from around the world.”

KC2026 will post registration information for the festival to its website and social channels in early December. Fans can register their interest in attending specific days or purchasing a premium ticket, which will include access to guaranteed entrance, exclusive shaded viewing zone, private bar, additional food options and limited-access merchandise.

Capacity for the festival will be 25,000 at a time with the event being open at a minimum, on Kansas City match days and Team USA match days. Details about days and hours of operation will be announced.