New Missouri World Cup camp option emerges as trio of world’s best teams eye KC

The Kansas City area could be the site of four base camps for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, The Star has learned, one more than originally expected.

And three of the world’s top-seven teams could be at those camps in Kansas City proper.

FIFA’s official brochure of base camp candidates for Kansas City includes the training facilities for Sporting Kansas City and the Current. But Swope Soccer Village in Kansas City could be used as a regional training camp, even though it is not mentioned in FIFA’s brochure, a source confirmed to The Star.

Some countries have made accommodations on their own, not relying on FIFA’s recommendation. Notably, Germany picked Wake Forest’s facilities for its base camp earlier this month — and Wake Forest had not been listed in FIFA’s brochure.

“FIFA has not confirmed any (other) Kansas City base camp locations to us,” Pam Kramer, president of KC2026, said in a conference call. ”It’s a more complex process than I think people might understand. There’s the venue, you’ve got the team, you’ve got the hotel, you’ve got FIFA, you’ve got the host committee.”

While no team has officially announced it is training in Kansas City, three teams are the leading candidates to set up shop for training here. All are world soccer powers: Argentina (No. 2 in FIFA’s world rankings), England (No. 4) and the Netherlands (No. 7).

Reports from media sites in Argentina said the defending champion asked FIFA to make its camp in Kansas City. The same is true for England. And a source told The Star the Netherlands is looking at Kansas City for its camp.

The Netherlands and Argentina both play group-stage matches at Arrowhead Stadium. Lionel Messi and Argentina face Algeria on June 16. The Netherlands end group-stage play with a match against Tunisia on June 25 at Arrowhead Stadium.

It’s also likely a fourth team would train in Lawrence at Rock Chalk Park and use the University of Kansas’ facilities.

Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas is excited about what’s coming to the city.

“The interest from world-class teams continues to show Kansas City is a premier destination with world-class facilities,” Lucas siad in a statement. “We look forward to learning which teams will call Kansas City home as the national teams work with FIFA to make their selections. We’re excited to welcome the world to Kansas City. “

Kansas City was always seen as a desirable base camp destination, primarily for the quality of its facilities and central location. For Argentina, there’s also a convenience factor of having its opening match in KC.

Kramer said roughly a dozen countries have visited Kansas City or had virtual calls.

“We’re a base camp destination,” Kramer said, “and that really speaks to the investment in facilities, Sporting Kansas City, the Kansas City Current, the University of Kansas have made in their facilities, the way that they’ve maintained them, and the experience that the teams had when they were here.”

This story was originally published January 20, 2026 at 1:29 PM.