Everything to know about going to Kansas City’s free Fan Festival for the World Cup

The FIFA World Cup is here, and Kansas City’s Fan Fest at the National World War I Museum and Memorial opens Thursday, June 11.

If you want to soak up the international atmosphere without springing for match tickets at Kansas City Stadium, this is your moment. The 18-day celebration runs through July 11 with free general admission, live music, soccer activities and a lineup of local food vendors.

Here’s a breakdown of what to expect if you and your family or friends make your way downtown.

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How do we get in, and is it really free?

Yes, general admission is free, which sets Kansas City’s Fan Fest apart from some other host city sites — Los Angeles, for example, is charging $10 per person.

But you do need to register ahead of time for a digital pass. Registration launched in April through the KC World Cup website, where you can grab up to six general admission passes per checkout. You’ll get a QR code roughly 48 hours before your selected date.

The whole festival is capped at 25,000 attendees at a time, with turnover expected about once a day, so register early for the dates you want. If you’d rather guarantee a spot or splurge for the experience, Premium Garden passes run $55 a day, and Legacy Lounge passes are $225 a day and include food and beverage. The Legacy Lounge — a two-story climate-controlled area with a straight view of the main stage — is capped at 500 people.

What’s the parking and transit situation?

Plan on walking. Multiple streets around the WWI museum are closed or restricted, including Grand Boulevard (closed through July 25) and parts of Main Street, Wyandotte Street and Memorial Drive. The easiest option for families is the KC Streetcar, which is free and stops near Main Street and Memorial Drive — about a five-minute walk from the main entrance. You can park near a streetcar stop at River Market, downtown or by UMKC and ride in.

If you’d rather drive closer, Union Station parking is $15 for the south plaza lot or $7 for up to four hours in the garage (prices may rise during peak demand). It’s about an 11-minute walk from there to the museum — and yes, it’s hilly. The Crown Center lot is about an 8-minute walk and starts at $11 for an hour. Buses through the Kansas City Area Transit Authority are running extended east-west routes from June 7 through July 11, but note that KC buses are no longer free — you’ll need a bus pass or a debit/credit card.

For families coming from Johnson County, the new Johnson County United Link is a temporary network of three circulator bus routes running June 9 through July 13, connecting Leawood, Lenexa, Merriam and other JoCo spots.

Riders can transfer to ConnectKC26 buses to reach Fan Fest. The KC2026 shuttle costs $5 for a day pass, $25 for a week or $50 for unlimited rides during the tournament, and the bus mall is at 2644 Warwick Trafficway — about two blocks from Fan Fest.

Can I bring a stroller and diaper bag?

Yes. Strollers, diaper bags and medically necessary bags are specifically called out as exceptions to the festival’s bag policy, though medically necessary bags will be inspected by security. Prescription medications are also allowed.

For everyone else’s bags, the rules mirror what was used at the 2023 NFL Draft. Clear bags up to 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches are permitted, and non-clear bags must not exceed 4.5 inches by 6.5 inches. All bags will be searched at entry.

Empty, reusable water bottles are allowed inside Fan Fest — a nice perk if you’re keeping kids hydrated. Weapons and professional cameras are not permitted, so phones are your camera for the day.

Is there really stuff for kids to do?

Yes — and this is where the festival shines for soccer families. There will be designated areas for fans and kids to kick a ball around, with clinics sponsored by Sporting KC. The skills space will be near the premium garden and the live stage. Additional Fan Fest activities include watch parties, photo ops, cooling stations, trophy displays, skills challenges and multi-sport games.

The grounds are roughly the size of a football field, so it’s walkable but big enough that kids can stretch their legs. You’ll enter under a 65-foot KC heart sculpture — a built-in photo op. There’s an 8,000-square-foot retail space for jerseys and soccer merch, and the main stage has a 4,200-square-foot screen, twice the size of the one used when Chappell Roan performed at the WWI museum.

What’s the food situation?

Twenty local food vendors will be on site near the KC Heart Gateway, every day the festival is open. The lineup leans family-friendly, with KC barbecue, fried chicken sandwiches, pizza, empanadas and ice cream. Local names include Arthur Bryant’s Barbecue, Taco Naco and Lulu’s Thai Noodle Shop, among others.

Bars are available on the festival grounds for general admission guests. Premium Garden and Legacy Lounge food options are still being finalized.

What if it rains?

Fan Fest is largely outdoors, so weather will be a factor. Organizers are working directly with the National Weather Service, and Mallory Cage, KC2026’s director of Fan Festival and events, said the gates stay open through most rain. “Unless (the rain) becomes so heavy that you can’t see, we’ll still be open,” Cage said.

The site will be cleared for lightning or high winds. After the last lightning strike, organizers will wait at least 30 minutes before letting fans back in — and you’ll have to go through security again to re-enter. Pack rain jackets and check the forecast before you head down.

Can we bring the dog?

Some days, yes. Three pet-friendly days for dogs are scheduled during the run, so check the Fan Fest schedule before you bring a furry friend. The festival’s themed days are tied to the six Kansas City match dates, with each featuring a different focus.

What about language help and accessibility?

Volunteers who speak different languages will be on site, and QR codes will help fans translate. Public announcements and screens will display messages in multiple languages too, which is helpful if you’re meeting up with international visitors or want to introduce kids to the global crowd.

Pam Kramer, KC2026’s CEO, said registration trends suggest about 15% of attendees will come from other nations, including Argentina and Ecuador, with the overall mix tilting roughly 60% Kansas City area and 40% from outside the region.

When is it open?

Fan Fest opens Thursday, June 11, from 1 to 6 p.m. It runs on match days and surrounding dates: June 11-16, June 19-21, June 24-27, July 3-5 and July 9-11. The first Kansas City match — Argentina vs. Algeria — is June 16, and Ecuador faces Curaçao here on June 20.

Headlining concerts include Tech N9ne (June 12 and July 11), The Chainsmokers (June 13), Flo Rida (June 19), CimaFunk (June 20), Gabby Barrett (July 3) and The All-American Rejects (July 11). More than 40 artists with Kansas City ties — including local DJs like DJ Ne$ (the Kansas City Current’s official DJ) and DJ Dawna (Sporting KC’s DJ) — will perform throughout the run.

As Mayor Quinton Lucas put it: “If you don’t have the money to get into a match, this is what the World Cup is all about.”

This story was originally published June 11, 2026 at 8:37 AM.