Here’s what fans can expect for security at Kansas City’s World Cup Fan Festival
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Kansas City will secure Fan Festival grounds with fencing and designated entry points.
- Attendees will use a mobile app to access the festival and encounter metal detectors.
- Organizers capped festival attendance at 25,000 and applied a clear bag policy.
As Kansas City prepares to host massive crowds for the FIFA World Cup, law enforcement officials say security planning for the Kansas City Fan Festival will more closely resemble the 2023 NFL Draft than the city’s previous Super Bowl celebrations.
Kansas City is one of 16 host cities in North America for the FIFA World Cup, though estimates of visitor numbers have varied widely. Events are expected to run from June 11 through July 11, when the Fan Festival wraps up following the final World Cup match in Kansas City.
The Fan Festival, which will be held on the grounds of the National WWI Museum and Memorial, will operate within secured perimeters with designated entry points, metal detectors and controlled access for attendees, according to the Kansas City Police Department.
Capt. Jake Becchina, a Kansas City Police Department spokesperson, said many operational security details remain private among the law enforcement agencies assisting with World Cup operations, but officials have outlined several measures attendees can expect.
Festival grounds will be enclosed by fencing with designated entry points where attendees will pass through metal detectors before entering. Officials also said attendees will be required to use a mobile app to access the festival, allowing organizers to monitor attendance numbers.
“None of those conditions have been present for any of the three Super Bowl parades,” Becchina said. “This controlled access and presence of security measures is expected to greatly enhance the safety at and around the FIFA Fan Fest.”
The Fan Festival will also have a bag policy similar to the one used during the 2023 NFL Draft. Clear bags measuring up to 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches will be permitted, along with diaper bags and medically necessary bags. Non-clear bags must not exceed 4.5 inches by 6.5 inches. All bags will be subject to search upon entry.
Pam Kramer, chief executive officer of KC2026, said Tuesday that organizers and law enforcement agencies have conducted multiple training sessions in recent weeks, including joint exercises involving local safety and security personnel.
The Fan Festival will be capped at 25,000 attendees at one time, according to organizers. Kramer said the attendance cap was intentional and designed to encourage visitors to attend events throughout the region.
Fan Festival events include concerts from artists such as Sheryl Crow, The Chainsmokers, All-American Rejects and Tech N9ne. A full schedule of events can be found here.
