KANSAS CITY, Kan. — 798 days until the first match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
It seems like a long way, but two years have passed quickly and there is still a lot of work to do in Kansas City to prepare for the World Soccer Tournament.
U.S. Soccer CEO J.T. Batson toured Kansas City and its soccer facilities this week as the United States, Mexico and Canada prepare to host a total of 104 games.
He spoke to the media at Sporting Kansas City's practice facility in KCK after also touring Kansas City Current's facility.
“The investment in football through ownership by the government here in the Kansas City area is incredible,” Batson said.
WC teams choose locations around the country depending on their proximity to the match venue.
Batson explained that teams that have already qualified for the World Cup are sending representatives to tour facilities around the country to decide where to choose their base camp. But that mostly depends on where the team falls in the group stage.
The draw usually takes place late in the year before the World Cup, so in this case it would be approximately December 2025.
“Being central to Kansas City has a lot of benefits in that regard,” he said. Batson also acknowledged the good facilities as a reason why the team wanted to be based in KC.
“In addition to the economic development that comes from the game itself, you also benefit from the traveling circus of these teams, staying for 30, 45, 60 days depending on how long you stay and how you stay.Well, they are. Yo.”
Copa America Group Stage Games are also scheduled in Kansas City in June and July. Copa America is a championship between the national teams of North America, Central America, and South America.
KC is one of 14 host cities in the United States.
The winner will then face the winner of UEFA Euro 2024 in the 2025 CONMEBOL-UEFA Champions Cup.
Peru (32nd in the FIFA rankings) will play Canada (49th in the FIFA rankings) on Saturday, June 25th at Children's Mercy Park in SKC.
The United States Men's National Team (No. 11 in the FIFA rankings) is scheduled to play Uruguay (No. 15 in the FIFA rankings) at Kansas City Chiefs Arrowhead Stadium on July 1 at 8 p.m. The USMNT holds an undefeated record in Kansas City (10th place -0-2).
Batson is looking forward to seeing KC host the USMNT, or vice versa, and sees it as a prelude to when KC hosts a total of six games at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
“We are very confident that Kansas City is ready to welcome 12 teams from around the world to this great celebration of football.”
Batson said KC strongly supports the U.S.-Mexico team's bid for the 2027 FIFA Women's World Cup. The bidding includes 16 host cities: 11 in the United States and five in Mexico.
America-Mexico is one of three countries being considered for hosting the event, along with Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands and Brazil. The host country is scheduled to be decided in Bangkok in May.
“We believe that the Women's World Cup in the United States and Mexico will generate more than $2 billion in profits, invest in women's soccer around the world, and transform women's soccer.
