FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Elliott Scott
Kansas City Selected to Host 6 FIFA World Cup 26™ Matches, Including A Coveted Quarterfinal
KANSAS CITY, MO (February 4, 2024) – Today at 2 p.m. CST, in a televised broadcast, FIFA released the eagerly awaited match schedule for the FIFA World Cup 26™, announcing Kansas City will host 6 matches, one of which is a quarterfinal.
According to FIFA, more than 6 million fans are expected to attend FIFA World Cup 26™. In 2026, Kansas City’s group stage matches will take place on June 16, 20, 25 and 27, a knockout game will be played on July 3 and a quarterfinal match will be hosted by Kansas City on July 11.
“Confirmation of the match schedule for the FIFA World Cup 26™ provides critical information that will inform our planning and decision-making in the months to follow,” says Katherine Holland, Executive Director of KC2026. “As the Heart of America, Kansas City is thrilled to have the opportunity to host a quarterfinal match and we look forward to creating an unparalleled fan experience for visitors from around the world.”
For the announcement, KC2026, the nonprofit organization charged with fulfilling Kansas City’s duties for FIFA World Cup 26™, hosted a watch party for the general public at No Other Pub. Set in the Power & Light District, the location of internationally broadcasted watch parties for past FIFA World Cup™ matches, the event included family-friendly activations from Kansas City’s professional soccer teams: Sporting Kansas City and the Kansas City Current.
“FIFA’s selection of Kansas City as a World Cup Host City — and today’s announcement Kansas City will host 6 World Cup 2026 matches including a quarterfinal — highlights to the world what our community already knew: Kansas City is the place to be,” says Mayor Quinton Lucas. “From our new world-class airport terminal to the first purpose-built stadium for women's professional sports and beyond, Kanas City continues to innovate in impactful ways, generating widespread enthusiasm for our community and region. We look forward to hosting players and fans from around the world to the Soccer Capital of America.”
The FIFA World Cup™ is the largest and most prestigious single-sport event in the world and is followed by billions of fans across the globe. FIFA World Cup 26™ will be jointly hosted by 16 cities spread amongst The United States, Canada & Mexico and is the first-ever tournament with 48 teams competing for the title of World Champion.
The full FIFA match schedule is viewable here.
Fans can pre-register for FIFA World Cup 26TM ticket information at fifa.com/tickets.
About KC2026
A nonprofit organization overseeing strategy and delivering host city duties for FIFA World Cup 26™, KC2026 will plan, construct and implement all aspects of Kansas City’s largest sports and fan engagement event in the region’s history. Learn more at www.KansasCityFWC26.com
About Greater Kansas City
Home to 2.5 million people, Kansas City is a vibrant metro in the heart of the U.S., known as the “KC Heartland.” An all-new single terminal at Kansas City International Airport welcomes guests by air, while 85% of the U.S. is less than a two-day drive away. The region’s red-hot sports culture is embraced every season, headlined by the Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals, Major League Soccer’s Sporting Kansas City, and the National Women’s Soccer League’s Kansas City Current.
Home to renowned arts and culture, experience live entertainment in Downtown Kansas City’s Power & Light District, as well as 40 jazz clubs throughout the area. Find food from James Beard award-winning chefs and sample true KC tradition at more than 100 barbecue restaurants across the metro. Dive into some of the country’s most significant historical moments at KC’s treasured institutions, from the National WWI Museum and Memorial and the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and the American Jazz Museum. Learn more at www.KC.org.
About FIFA World Cup 26™
FIFA World Cup 26™ will be the biggest sporting event ever, with three Host Countries, 16 Host Cities, 48 teams and 104 matches uniting an entire continent to showcase a momentous new tournament format. With more countries, cities, teams, and games, FIFA World Cup 26™ will be the most inclusive tournament ever, engaging millions of fans across 16 unique stadiums and billions worldwide. The tournament will take place in June and July 2026. For the latest FIFA World Cup 26™ information please visit the FIFA World Cup 26™ website. For media representatives wishing to stay up-to-date on all things 2026, please register via the FIFA Media Hub.
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