How much will U.S., Kansas, Missouri and Kansas City spend on the World Cup?
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Governments contributed almost $200 million for Kansas City World Cup support.
- Missouri allocated $77.8 million since 2025, including about $35 million to KC 2026.
- The federal 59.5 million for Kansas City for security, overtime, equipment and Fan Fest.
Kansas City-area elected officials for the most part agree the nine-figure public price tag associated with this summer’s World Cup was a good investment.
A select few are starting to question the wisdom of the federal, state and local government spending, which adds up to almost $200 million, according to multiple budget documents.
The tournament will kick off in less than a month, and Kansas City’s six matches will run from June 16 to July 11. The funding has gone to road improvements, security, economic development programs and more since Kansas City was announced as a host city in 2022.
Kansas City 2026, the host organization for the World Cup in Kansas City, estimated that the region will see a direct economic impact exceeding $653 million. Recent hotel booking reports have dampened expectations on the number of visitors to Kansas City, but some lawmakers remain optimistic about the investment.
“These are people from different countries, and they’re exposed to Kansas City, and they see what it’s like, I’m not sure you can put a dollar value on that,” House Speaker Jonathan Patterson said. “I think Kansas City is going to get its money’s worth for the $77 million that the state spent.”
Kansas City
In 2023, the Kansas City Council approved a $15 million commitment to Kansas City 2026, the host organization for FIFA in Kansas City. The city paid the amount in yearly installments pulled from its taxes on short-term rentals.
The ordinance says the funding will be to “provide the necessary City services, including police, fire, traffic, emergency management services and sanitation services, and all other contractual obligations for the 2026 FIFA World Cup games that will be played in Kansas City, as well as all related events and activities.”
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas said that the funding has gone to venues and direct funding to aid the tournament’s success.
“We invested in the World Cup to support an event that will be special for Kansas Citians—our businesses, hospitality industry, our young people, and the city’s brand in the United States and the world,” Lucas said in a statement.
Missouri
The state of Missouri has allocated over $77.8 million since fiscal year 2025 from its general revenue and other state funds for the World Cup. About $35 million of that state funding will go to Kansas City 2026.
In a statement to The Star, Gov. Mike Kehoe said the state prioritized “public safety and preparedness first” in its budget proposals, which funded safety measures, personnel and transportation.
“I appreciate the support for these investments from the members of the Missouri General Assembly. The Show-Me State is ready to play a leading role in bringing the FIFA World Cup experience to America’s heartland,” Kehoe said.
The state spent:
- A combined $6.5 million for the Missouri Department of Transportation.
- About $2 million for marketing within the Missouri Department of Economic Development.
- $1.7 million for the National Guard.
- $12 million for the Department of Public Safety operations.
Kansas
In 2024, Kansas authorized spending $28 million in support of the World Cup. The state gave federal dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act to KC 2026, which must be “related to the transportation and security plan” as determined by the FIFA World Cup 26 Kansas City Committee.
“When hosting a high-profile international event like the World Cup, the state’s investment towards bolstering infrastructure and supporting safety and security efforts around matches, fan events, and the surrounding region, are long-term investments that will ensure a successful event and last beyond the World Cup,” said Grace Hoge, a spokesperson for Kansas Gov. Laura Kelly.
Kansas also approved $10 million in state funds in 2023 to improve Children’s Mercy Park ahead of the World Cup.
Sen. Mike Thompson, a Shawnee Republican, told The Star that he was skeptical of the state funding for The World Cup from the beginning.
“I think the expectations for the World Cup were overblown, and we’re starting to see evidence of that,” Thompson said. “I really wish that we hadn’t spent that kind of money on it, to be honest.”
He said he has not reviewed a detailed accounting of expenditures that Kansas City 2026 was required to furnish for the Legislature by Jan 12 as a stipulation for the Department of Commerce doling out $28 million to support the World Cup.
The Star has submitted an open records request seeking a copy of that report.
Federal government
The federal government’s $625 million FIFA bill included about $59.5 million for Kansas City. The money is meant to pay for police overtime, security personnel, equipment at the matches and Fan Fest.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency awarded $14.2 million to the state for drone security. FEMA doled out money to the 11 states that are hosting World Cup matches in December.
This story was originally published May 12, 2026 at 2:22 PM.
