Kansas City’s time on the world stage is getting closer by the day. As the excitement builds, city leaders, business owners, and law enforcement officials are working hard to be ready for the hundreds of thousands of fans flooding the city from around the world.The next major domino to fall is Kansas City’s base camp pairing.KMBC9 has learned Argentina, England, the Netherlands, and Algeria all plan to base camp in the Kansas City metro.Sources tell KMBC Argentina will base camp at the Compass Minerals National Performance Center, the training home of Sporting Kansas City. England will train at Swope Soccer Village. Alegria will practice at Rock Chalk Park in Lawrence, Kansas. Finally, the Netherlands national football team is expected to train at the Kansas City Current’s facility.On Tuesday morning, Pam Kramer, the CEO of KC2026, said she could not confirm any teams set to base camp in the KC metro, but said FIFA will make the official announcement in the coming weeks or months.England’s heading to Swope Park Soccer Village, confirming recent rumors of a fourth KC base camp. Previously, only three sites had been advertised publicly.Kramer said the KC metro has been a prime base camp destination thanks to its premier facilities and central location.”We’ve had more than a dozen over the past year or so,” Kramer said. “You know, I would say we’ve probably had ten that have been here more than once, which is pretty incredible.”Tuesday morning, Kramer also discussed how KC law enforcement officials will secure the World Cup festivities for the hundreds of thousands of fans and locals expected in the metro for the tournament.Last week, Kramer said members of KC2026 and local law enforcement officials attended a summit in Colorado alongside other host cities and federal authorities. The summit focused on security and making sure each host city is prepared.”We’ve had, I think, 23-plus safety and security exercises over the last 18 months,” Kramer said. “What are the World Cup-specific scenarios that we should continue to look at? And how can we make sure that we’re coordinated across the country with those venues?”A huge part of the security effort will feature the KC2026 Fan Fest set up on the lawn of the National WWI Museum and Memorial. The event will be open for at least 18 days and hosts thousands of fans each day for watch parties, family fun, and more.Right now, local restaurants can apply to have their food featured at the fan fest for visitors from across the world. Kramer said her team has talked to a variety of local restaurants.”Some food trucks, that’s a great option,” Kramer said. “Others don’t have a food truck, so perhaps we have some rotating stations where there’s basic equipment, and we can rotate in and out.”Kc2026 is working to ensure businesses are prepared for the influx of people from diverse cultures.”We’re working with KC and other partners to provide hospitality training. You’ve heard me talk about, you know, whether or not a culture is used to tipping, what time of day, do certain cultures prefer to have dinner? And, you know, how do we make sure that businesses are aware of what we know?”Businesses can access KC Game Plan on the KC2026 website. There is also an assessment where businesses can evaluate how ready they are for the World Cup visitors. Kramer said more than 300 businesses have already completed it.
Kansas City’s time on the world stage is getting closer by the day. As the excitement builds, city leaders, business owners, and law enforcement officials are working hard to be ready for the hundreds of thousands of fans flooding the city from around the world.
The next major domino to fall is Kansas City’s base camp pairing.
KMBC9 has learned Argentina, England, the Netherlands, and Algeria all plan to base camp in the Kansas City metro.
Sources tell KMBC Argentina will base camp at the Compass Minerals National Performance Center, the training home of Sporting Kansas City. England will train at Swope Soccer Village. Alegria will practice at Rock Chalk Park in Lawrence, Kansas.
Finally, the Netherlands national football team is expected to train at the Kansas City Current’s facility.
On Tuesday morning, Pam Kramer, the CEO of KC2026, said she could not confirm any teams set to base camp in the KC metro, but said FIFA will make the official announcement in the coming weeks or months.
England’s heading to Swope Park Soccer Village, confirming recent rumors of a fourth KC base camp. Previously, only three sites had been advertised publicly.
Kramer said the KC metro has been a prime base camp destination thanks to its premier facilities and central location.
“We’ve had more than a dozen [teams visit] over the past year or so,” Kramer said. “You know, I would say we’ve probably had ten that have been here more than once, which is pretty incredible.”
Tuesday morning, Kramer also discussed how KC law enforcement officials will secure the World Cup festivities for the hundreds of thousands of fans and locals expected in the metro for the tournament.
Last week, Kramer said members of KC2026 and local law enforcement officials attended a summit in Colorado alongside other host cities and federal authorities. The summit focused on security and making sure each host city is prepared.
“We’ve had, I think, 23-plus safety and security exercises over the last 18 months,” Kramer said. “What are the World Cup-specific scenarios that we should continue to look at? And how can we make sure that we’re coordinated across the country with those venues?”
A huge part of the security effort will feature the KC2026 Fan Fest set up on the lawn of the National WWI Museum and Memorial. The event will be open for at least 18 days and hosts thousands of fans each day for watch parties, family fun, and more.
Right now, local restaurants can apply to have their food featured at the fan fest for visitors from across the world. Kramer said her team has talked to a variety of local restaurants.
“Some food trucks, that’s a great option,” Kramer said. “Others don’t have a food truck, so perhaps we have some rotating stations where there’s basic equipment, and we can rotate in and out.”
Kc2026 is working to ensure businesses are prepared for the influx of people from diverse cultures.
“We’re working with KC and other partners to provide hospitality training. You’ve heard me talk about, you know, whether or not a culture is used to tipping, what time of day, do certain cultures prefer to have dinner? And, you know, how do we make sure that businesses are aware of what we know?”
Businesses can access KC Game Plan on the KC2026 website. There is also an assessment where businesses can evaluate how ready they are for the World Cup visitors. Kramer said more than 300 businesses have already completed it.
