Crown Center kicks off World Cup fun for kids beginning Memorial Day weekend
With about 20 days remaining before the first 2026 FIFA World Cup game in Kansas City, Crown Center is kicking off World Cup fun for kids on Memorial Day weekend.
As of Wednesday, the flags of the 48 nations competing in the World Cup began fluttering, crisscrossed above the plaza at Crown Center. A giant inflatable soccer ball, 10 feet in diameter and ripe for Instagram photos, sits near Grand Boulevard, tied in place against the weather.
On Wednesday, Andy Fox of the print shop BrainStorm fought the wind to lay a host cities map atop the plaza welcoming visitors to Kansas City.
Beginning Saturday, May 23, Crown Center will also feature a “soccer darts challenge,” in which kids can kick Velcro soccer balls at a dart board to score points.
The soccer-themed plaza is scheduled to stay in place until July 12, one day after the final game to be played in Kansas City —a quarterfinal scheduled for Saturday, July 11 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
Meanwhile, the grounds of the National WWI Musuem and Memorial continue to prepare for the official FIFA Fan Festival, scheduled to open on Thursday, June 11.
Although the festival is free and open to the public, entrance is to be capped at 25,000 guests.
Reminder: Everyone must have a pass to enter the festival. Entry is first-come, first-served and having a pass does not guarantee entrance if the festival is at capacity.
To register for passes, visit Fan Fest — FIFA World CUP 2026 Kansas City.
