Why are World Cup base camps important? Here are the benefits KC should see
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Base camps will drive local economic activity through visitor spending.
- Extended team stays will create cultural exchange opportunities within the community.
- Hosting base camps will amplify attention and boost tourism during World Cup matches.
During an off-day at the 2006 World Cup in Germany, I went to a Frida Kahlo exhibit at a Hamburg museum and remember a chance encounter.
Outside the museum, I spotted a couple that seemed to be from the United States. I deduced this because the U.S. national team had its base camp in Hamburg, and the man was wearing an Indiana Hoosiers cap.
It was the parents of former U.S. midfielder Damarcus Beasley, who is from Indiana. They were among numerous visitors from the United States at that World Cup.
And that’s what Kansas City can expect with the Netherlands, England and Argentina expected to have base camps here for the 2026 World Cup.
Kansas City will be on a world stage because it is playing host to six matches in the World Cup, but equally important will be the base camps.
“We know that any base camp here will be an impact,” Pam Kramer, president of KC2026, said Tuesday in a conference call. “And we met last week with embassy representatives from the seven countries that will play here, and their conversation around the match and around where their teams could potentially base camp, and how they’re making decisions based on the combination of those two things, really, I think, amplified for us, the opportunity with base camps.
“It will depend on the size of the fan base, the capacity to travel of the fan base. There are lots of factors, but we think that the base camps can be not only an economic impact, but there’s a cultural opportunity here. When we have teams that will be here for 30 plus days, there’s a chance for our community to engage in a very different way.”
Spring training comparison
Kramer likened the World Cup base camps to spring training where teams stay for two months at a city in Florida or Arizona, and fans come to see the players. Fans from Kansas City often make the trip to Surprise, Arizona, each February and March to watch the Royals.
But at the World Cup base camps in Kansas City, more than fans are expected.
“For the base camps, there will be families of players, coaches, staff,” Kramer said. “In some cases, there will be sponsors, certainly the embassies, I think with base camps aside, with Argentina playing here, and their massive fan following, I think they will have several representatives from their embassies, several consul generals, counselors on the ground here in Kansas City.
“And again, that is what we’ve been thinking about for 18 months, as long as I’ve been involved in this, how do we leverage that for sustained and long-term impact? There is real economic opportunity there connecting global business decision-makers, thought leaders, government leaders, to our economy and showing how we do things here. Why this is a good place to invest, to start a business, to locate a business, perhaps put a second headquarters, and a pretty great place to live.”
Kramer said more than a dozen national team representatives visited Kansas City in person or through virtual calls to discuss base camp training facilities, security and lodging.
FIFA was expected to formally announce the base camp locations for all 48 teams playing in the World Cup by early April. But Kramer said that now will happen earlier.
“As difficult as it is to wait, there is some optimism that it will be sooner rather than later,” she said. “I don’t have a specific date, but it won’t be April as we previously thought.”
This story was originally published January 22, 2026 at 9:02 AM.
