Kansas City’s hurdles for hosting World Cup 2026

Kansas City has some big hurdles to clear before hosting the World Cup in 2026. Funding gaps have slowed big projects like the South Loop park over I-670, even as leaders scramble for federal loans. Moving fans will also be tough, with KC needing to lease over 200 buses since light rail dreams to the airport still remain unfulfilled.

To help boost spirit, updates like the Parade of Hearts redesign and Tech N9ne’s new "Kansas City Theme x FIFA World Cup 26" aim to show civic pride. Big investments like Governor Mike Kehoe's $40.5 million proposal are on the table, but questions about readiness remain.

NO. 1: THIS TOWERING KC LANDMARK DESERVES TO SHINE AGAIN, ESPECIALLY WITH WORLD CUP ON THE WAY

A Kansas City icon used to “glow against the night for miles and miles around.” Can it ever light up again? | Published July 18, 2024 | Read Full Story by Vahe Gregorian

The South Loop project would put a cap over Interstate 670 and create a large, urban park that would connect the city’s business district and the Crossroads Arts District. By Tammy Ljungblad

NO. 2: KANSAS CITY’S PLAN FOR PARK OVER I-670 STALLED OUT. IS HELP FROM FEDS ENOUGH TO PULL IT OFF?

The city still needs tens of millions of dollars in private donations to develop a park on top of the freeway lid, but Mayor Quinton Lucas says, “Yes, it’s going to happen.” | Published July 31, 2024 | Read Full Story by Mike Hendricks

RideKC’s downtown bus to and from Kansas City International Airport runs once an hour.

NO. 3: KC LEADERS PROMISED AIRPORT TRANSIT FOR WORLD CUP. WHAT’S POSSIBLE, AND WHAT’S A PIPE DREAM?

Planners once dreamed of a monorail or hovercraft to KCI, but the only public transit today consists of a single bus each way once an hour. | Published September 16, 2024 | Read Full Story by Mike Hendricks

Players from the East High School soccer team kick a ball around at the National WWI Museum and Memorial on Wednesday, Aug 14, 2024. The venue was announced as the location of the FIFA Fan Festival for the 2026 World Cup matches in Kansas City. By Dominick Williams

NO. 4: FIGURING OUT TRANSIT FOR WORLD CUP IN KC IS NO SMALL TASK. TAKE IT FROM THE GUY IN CHARGE

A company that had a key role planning for bus service at the World Cup in Qatar now has Kansas City as a client. | Published October 20, 2024 | Read Full Story by Mike Hendricks

The celebration kicked into high gear when Kansas City was named one of the sites for the 2026 FIFA World Cup Soccer at KC Live in the Power & Light District in 2022. By Rich Sugg

NO. 5: MISSOURI GOV. MIKE KEHOE WANTS $40M MORE FOR KANSAS CITY WORLD CUP EFFORT. IS IT ENOUGH?

The sprawling soccer tournament will test Kansas City like few events ever have. | Published January 29, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jonathan Shorman Kacen Bayless

Parade of Hearts, a biannual tradition in Kansas City, unveiled its new redesign for 2026 on Tuesday, Mar. 4, 2025 in Kansas City. This is the prototype, which will be a base white color that will be primed for paint when artists get their hands on it. By Dominick Williams

NO. 6: PARADE OF HEARTS WILL HAVE A NEW LOOK IN 2026. SEE THE SHAPE SET TO POP UP ALL OVER KC

The 2026 display will coincide with the FIFA World Cup and the visitors expected to pour into the city. | Published March 4, 2025 | Read Full Story by Joseph Hernandez

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Kansas City’s own Tech N9ne performed at the 12th Street lighting ceremony this year keeping alive his tradition of giving back to the community during the holidays. By Dominick Williams

NO. 7: TECH N9NE DROPS KANSAS CITY’S ANTHEM FOR 2026 FIFA WORLD CUP. LISTEN NOW

“The message I’d like for people to take away from this Sonic ID is that togetherness is power, and with that, we can work our way to victory.” | Published March 11, 2025 | Read Full Story by J.M. Banks

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.