KC2026

What KC2026 does

KC2026 is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit host committee headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, established in 2022 after Kansas City was selected — stepping in when Chicago withdrew — as one of 16 host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup across Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The organization is responsible for delivering Kansas City's host-city duties during the June 11-July 19, 2026 tournament window, including six matches at Arrowhead Stadium (Kansas City Stadium), including a Round of 32 and a Quarterfinal match, the free 18-day FIFA Fan Festival at the National WWI Museum and Memorial with 25,000-person capacity, four Team Base Camps hosting Argentina, England, Netherlands, and Algeria, and the ConnectKC26 transportation network spanning airport, stadium, and regional motorcoach services.

The underlying technology stack is event-operational rather than software-product-oriented: a digital pass system for Fan Festival entry and ConnectKC26 transit (mobile wallet + Transit App integration), the FIFA tournament mobile app, and supporting community platforms (KC Game Plan, KC2026 Community Playbook, International Visitor Profiles). KC2026 does not generate direct ticket revenue — FIFA controls match ticketing and On Location is the exclusive hospitality provider — so the business model is a hybrid of pass-based consumer monetization (Premium Garden and Legacy Lounge upgrades, $5-$50 transit passes, Eventbrite stadium tours), Host City Supporter and Champion corporate partnership contributions, and indirect economic-impact value capture for the KC region ($653M projected direct regional impact across 650,000 unique visitors).

The go-to-market is event-driven: KC2026 leverages FIFA's global tournament platform to drive visitors and economic activity to Kansas City through partnerships with Host City Supporters (Black & Veatch, Hallmark, JE Dunn, KC Royals, Populous, Nestlé Purina, Sporting KC, Sysco), Host City Champions (Visit KC, Greater KC Chamber), and University of Kansas Health System as medical services provider. The organization is governed by a board with deep civic ties — honorary co-chairs include Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, Chiefs Chairman Clark Hunt, and Sporting KC Principal Owner Cliff Illig — and is led by CEO Pam Kramer alongside a leadership bench drawn from U.S. Bank, Sporting KC, DEG/Dentsu, Black & Veatch, Hall Family Foundation, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.

Name

KC2026

Legal name

KC2026

Website

https://kansascityfwc26.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

KC2026 is the 501(c)(4) nonprofit host committee delivering Kansas City's duties for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, organizing six matches at Arrowhead Stadium, the FIFA Fan Festival, ConnectKC26 transit, and four Team Base Camps for international visitors and national teams.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Event Hosting

NAICS

Spectator Sports (71121), Promoters of Performing Arts, Sports, and Similar Events with Facilities (71131)

akta.pro primary industry

International Multi-Sport Games Organizing Committees (e.g., Olympics, Commonwealth) (MPAKADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Venue-Owned/Operated Event Organizers (In-House Promoters) (MPAKADAI), Arena & Stadium Operations (Large-Capacity Venues) (MPAGALAA)

Keywords

• Event management services
• Sports tourism hosting
• Host city operations
• Fan festival experiences
• Nonprofit event organizing

Headquarters

HQ city

Kansas City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Infrastructure, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. FIFA Tournament Operations: KC2026 coordinates hosting duties including transportation (ConnectKC26), fan festival operations, volunteer management, and community engagement. Revenue flows primarily through ticket sales handled by FIFA and hospitality packages through On Location, with KC2026 focusing on operational delivery and economic impact rather than direct revenue generation.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

KC2026 is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit host committee that organizes Kansas City's delivery of FIFA World Cup 26 hosting duties. It coordinates six World Cup matches at Kansas City Stadium (Arrowhead Stadium), operates the free 18-day FIFA Fan Festival at the National WWI Museum and Memorial, runs the ConnectKC26 motorcoach transportation network (Airport Direct, Stadium Direct, Region Direct), manages Team Base Camps for four national teams (Argentina, England, Netherlands, Algeria), and provides premium hospitality experiences sold through On Location.

Product overview

KC2026 is a nonprofit organizing committee delivering host city duties for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Kansas City. The organization operates a portfolio of interconnected event products and services centered around hosting six World Cup matches at Kansas City Stadium. Core offerings include the FIFA Fan Festival Kansas City (a free 18-day entertainment festival at the National WWI Museum and Memorial), ConnectKC26 (the official tournament transportation service with Stadium Direct, Region Direct, and Airport Direct options), Team Base Camps for four national teams (Argentina, England, Netherlands, Algeria), and premium hospitality experiences sold through official partner On Location. Additional offerings include stadium tours via Eventbrite, upgraded Fan Festival passes (Premium Garden and Legacy Lounge), the KC Game Plan small business readiness program, the KC2026 Community Playbook, and the Match Made In KC Quiz. The organization coordinates these services across two states (Kansas and Missouri) to welcome an estimated 650,000 visitors during the June-July 2026 tournament.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• FIFA World Cup 2026 Kansas City Match Hosting Operational delivery of six FIFA World Cup 26 matches at Kansas City Stadium (Arrowhead Stadium), including group stage matches, a Round of 32 match, and a Quarterfinal match, serving international soccer fans attending matches in Kansas City.
• FIFA Fan Festival Kansas City A free 18-day entertainment festival at the National WWI Museum and Memorial featuring live music, cultural celebrations, match viewing on large screens, FIFA partner activations, and pet-friendly Dog Days events, with capacity for 25,000 attendees. Targeted at international soccer fans and visitors attending the World Cup.
• ConnectKC26 Transportation Service Official tournament motorcoach bus service providing three options: Stadium Direct for match-day transport to the stadium ($15 per rider per match), Region Direct for exploring the region (1-Day $5, 7-Day $25, Full Tournament $50), and Airport Direct providing free shuttle between Kansas City International Airport and downtown. Accessible transportation available via RideKC Freedom.
• Team Base Camps Elite training facilities serving as home bases for four national teams (Argentina, England, Netherlands, Algeria) during the tournament, including Compass Minerals National Performance Center, Swope Soccer Village, KC Current Training Center, and Rock Chalk Park at University of Kansas. Used for team training, rest, and preparation during the tournament.
• Kansas City Stadium Tours Behind-the-scenes stadium experiences offering exclusive access to locker rooms, media zones, premium areas, and iconic pitch viewpoints at Kansas City Stadium, available through Eventbrite booking for soccer fans and visitors.
• FIFA World Cup 2026 Hospitality Packages

Quantifiable outcome

• 650,000 unique visitors expected during the tournament
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers1 record

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and flagship.

• KC Pet ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 May 2026KC Pet Project collaborates with Purina and KC2026 on the Dog Days program at the FIFA Fan Festival, featuring an adoption-focused area and pet experiences on June 14, June 21, and July 5.
• The University of Kansas Health SystemcoreTechnology or IntegrationOfficial Medical Services Provider for the Kansas City World Cup 2026 Host City, helping support the health and safety of communities and visitors. The health system has extensive experience providing care and planning for large-scale sporting events, serving as official healthcare provider for Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals, Kansas City Current, and University of Kansas Athletics.
• On LocationcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOn Location is the Official Hospitality Provider of FIFA World Cup 26, serving as exclusive sales agent in Kansas City. They offer premium hospitality experiences featuring seats, meet-and-greets, entertainment, food and beverage, and custom itineraries. On Location has similarly partnered with the Olympic Games, Super Bowl, and Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival.
• Johnson County United LinkminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorJohnson County United Link offers unlimited rides circulating between Johnson County, Kansas neighborhoods and designated ConnectKC26 Region Direct service locations, providing regional transportation connectivity.
• FIFAflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerFIFA is the global governing body for soccer that selected Kansas City as one of 16 Host Cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup across Canada, Mexico, and the United States. KC2026 coordinates all host city obligations including matches, Fan Festival, transportation, and community engagement.
• Visit KCflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerVisit KC (Kansas City Sports Commission and Visit KC) is a Host City Champion and key partner in tourism promotion, economic development, and visitor services for the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Visit Dallas: Destination marketing organization supporting Dallas's WC26 host city role and broader tourism strategy; an analog to the Visit KC partnership that underlies much of KC2026's visitor services work.
• Atlanta Sports Commission: Regional sports commission supporting Atlanta's WC26 host city role at Mercedes-Benz Stadium; comparable destination sports marketing, event host delivery, and civic-partner convening functions to KC2026.
• LA28 (Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Organizing Committee): Nonprofit organizing committee delivering the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games; the closest functional analog to KC2026's host-city delivery model for a major international sporting event, with similar civic, governmental, and corporate-sponsor coordination.
• Visit KC (Kansas City Sports Commission and Foundation): Primary destination marketing and sports commission partner for KC2026; performs adjacent tourism promotion, visitor services, economic-development, and sports-event convening functions for the Kansas City region.
• New York New Jersey Host Committee for FIFA World Cup 26: Host committee for the largest U.S. WC26 market anchored by MetLife Stadium; performs the same FIFA-mandated match hosting, Fan Festival coordination, and civic partner engagement as KC2026 across a denser host-city geography.
• Toronto FIFA World Cup 26 Host Committee: Canadian host committee delivering WC26 match operations at BMO Field; analogous FIFA mandate, civic stakeholder governance, and cross-border coordination demands as KC2026.
• Greater Houston Sports Corporation: Destination sports organization coordinating WC26 operations at Houston venues; analogous event-delivery, sponsor stewardship, and host-city interface work to KC2026 in another WC26 market.
• Boston FIFA World Cup 26 Host Committee: Host committee organizing WC26 match delivery at Boston's Gillette Stadium; mirrors KC2026's small-market FIFA mandate, civic funding structure, and stadium-anchored operations model.

Broad incumbents

• On Location: Official Hospitality Provider for FIFA World Cup 26, distributing premium hospitality across all host cities including Kansas City; an adjacent ecosystem partner with overlapping event-delivery and monetization scope.
• FIFA: Global governing body of soccer and owner-operator of the 2026 World Cup; controls ticketing, sponsorship, broadcast rights, and tournament IP that KC2026's host-city delivery ultimately serves.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/FWC26KansasCity
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@FWC26KansasCity
• Facebookfacebook.com/FWC26KansasCity
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fwc26kansascity
• Instagraminstagram.com/FWC26KansasCity
• TikToktiktok.com/@fwc26kansascity

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles22 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about KC2026