Kansas City Goes All In On “We Are 26” FIFA World Cup 26™ Host City Brand, Announces Nonprofit Organization to Lead Effort

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (PRWEB)
May 18, 2023

Today, Kansas City introduced the formation of KC2026 and its Board of Directors, made up of 17 enterprise executives, civic leaders and elected officers.

A nonprofit group overseeing technique and delivering host metropolis duties for FIFA World Cup 26™, KC2026 will plan, assemble and implement all points of Kansas City’s largest sports activities and fan engagement occasion within the area’s historical past.

Ahead of Kansas City’s KC2026 press convention announcement, and for the primary time ever, FIFA unveiled distinctive localized match branding for every Host City for the FIFA World Cup 26™. Known as a sports-centric metropolis, and in true KC type, the market went all in on the model unveil with real-time activations at iconic landmarks and property together with Union Station Kansas City, Mill Creek Park, the KC Streetcar, the National WWI Museum and Memorial, digital shows throughout the metro, in addition to model colours proudly displayed throughout town’s skyline.

Kansas City’s Host City branded property for FIFA World Cup 26™ can be found at this link.

“This is a proud second for Kansas City. The FIFA World Cup 26™ will carry jobs to our residents, generate tons of of tens of millions of {dollars} for our area, and can illustrate on a worldwide stage what we’ve recognized for a while: Kansas City is the soccer capital of America. I can’t wait to welcome the world to Kansas City,” stated Mayor Quinton Lucas.

KC2026 introduced at present that it has already secured funding from Missouri and commitments of personal assist from key Kansas City organizations.

“We couldn’t be extra excited to host the FIFA World Cup 26™. We know KC2026 is bound to make this a world-class occasion in a world-class metropolis for sports activities followers right here at residence and world wide,” stated Missouri Governor Mike Parson. “From Super Bowl Champions to internet hosting the NFL Draft to being the primary metropolis to assemble a National Women’s Soccer League stadium, Kansas City is THE place to be. Now with the World Cup, this implies much more infrastructure funding, enterprise growth, expertise recruitment, and financial development for Kansas City, and we stay up for KC2026 including to the super success we’re seeing.”

The group will work intently with FIFA officers to make sure compliance with the occasion tips and requirements. The KC2026 Board of Directors will lead fundraising efforts, in addition to interact with varied stakeholders, together with authorities entities, neighborhood organizations, sponsors and volunteers to make sure that all preparations are in place for the occasion.

“Bringing the FIFA World Cup 26™ to the Kansas City Metro Region was a bi-state effort that may increase the Kansas economic system and present the world all that our state has to supply,” stated Kansas Governor Laura Kelly. “I’m delighted that an amazing group is being assembled to coordinate planning efforts over the following three years, and I stay up for persevering with to make the mandatory investments to get Kansas City prepared for this nice alternative.”

The KC2026 group is led by a Board of Directors and key leaders together with Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas, and honorary board co-chairs Clark Hunt, Chairman and CEO, Kansas City Chiefs and Cliff Illig, Principal Owner, Sporting Kansas City.

KC2026 Board of Directors embrace:

Executive Committee:

• Karen Daniel, KC2026 Board President, Chief Financial Officer, Black & Veatch (retired)
• Neal Sharma, KC2026 Board Vice President, President, dentsu store & Co-Founder and Former CEO, DEG
• Jake Reid, KC2026 Board Vice President, President and CEO, Sporting Kansas City
• Kathy Nelson, KC2026 Board Secretary, President and CEO, Kansas City Sports Commission and Visit KC
• Esther George, KC2026 Board Treasurer, President and CEO, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City (2011-2023)

Board Members:

• Mayra Aguirre, President, Hall Family Foundation
• David Johnston, County Administrator, Unified Government of Wyandotte County/Kansas City, Kansas
• Mike Kelly, Chairman, Johnson County Board of County Commissioners
• Matt Kenny, Executive Vice President – Operations and Events, Kansas City Chiefs
• Angie Long, Co-Owner, Kansas City Current
• Brian Platt, City Manager, Kansas City
• Joe Reardon, President and CEO, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce
• Senator John Rizzo, State of Missouri
• Jim Rowland, Executive Director, Jackson County Sports Complex Authority
• Morgan Said, Chief of Staff – Office of the Mayor, Kansas City
• Senator Dinah Sykes, State of Kansas
• Frank White Jr., Jackson County Executive, Jackson County, Missouri

Kansas City is understood for its central location, strong infrastructure, fan engagement, life-style facilities and connectivity, making it a key market inside the FIFA World Cup 26™ locations. Details on the variety of matches Kansas City will host, together with anticipated attendance, might be introduced later in 2023.

“This morning’s FIFA World Cup 26™ host metropolis model launch and the announcement of KC2026 is a crucial milestone that brings us one step nearer to creating this dream a actuality,” stated Clark Hunt, Chairman and CEO of the Kansas City Chiefs. “This is an amazing alternative for our neighborhood. Fans from each nook of the world might be launched to our metropolis and our area, and they’ll see what makes Kansas City such an amazing place to dwell, work and play.”

An inclusive sports activities metropolis with an unparalleled ardour for soccer, Kansas City has earned recognition because the Soccer Capital of America. The Kansas City area has invested greater than $600 million in soccer services within the final 15 years, together with the KC Current stadium opening in 2024 – the world’s largest funding in skilled ladies’s soccer. In addition, the KC2026 bid acquired endorsements from 9 youth soccer state associations all through the Midwest.

“Bringing the FIFA World Cup 26™ to Kansas City is the results of the collaboration between our skilled sports activities groups, native and state public officers and civic leaders,” stated Cliff Illig, Principal Owner of Sporting Kansas City. Fan expertise and hospitality are the essence of Kansas City standing out as a premier vacation spot for main occasions. Our soccer infrastructure is unmatched in North America, and we stay up for seeing our neighborhood welcome followers from world wide to the Soccer Capital of America.”

Kansas City, proudly often known as the Heart of America, is the nation’s most centrally positioned main metropolitan space with 55 million individuals inside a day’s drive and each coasts inside a three-hour flight.

The FIFA World Cup™ is the most important and most prestigious single-sport occasion on this planet and is adopted by billions of followers all around the world. The FIFA World Cup 26™ might be collectively hosted by 16 cities unfold amongst America, Canada & Mexico and is the first-ever match with 48 groups competing for the title of World Champion.

About KC2026

A nonprofit group overseeing technique and delivering host metropolis duties for FIFA World Cup 2026™, KC2026 will plan, assemble and implement all points of Kansas City’s largest sports activities and fan engagement occasion within the area’s historical past. Learn extra at http://www.kansascityfwc26.com/

About Greater Kansas City

Home to 2.5 million individuals, Kansas City is a vibrant metro within the coronary heart of the U.S., often known as the “KC Heartland.” An all-new single terminal at Kansas City International Airport welcomes visitors by air, whereas 85% of the U.S. is lower than a two-day drive away. The area’s red-hot sports activities tradition is embraced each 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 famend arts and tradition, expertise dwell leisure in Downtown Kansas City’s Power & Light District, in addition to 40 jazz golf equipment all through the realm. Find meals from James Beard award-winning cooks and pattern true KC custom at greater than 100 barbecue eating places throughout the metro. Dive into a few of the nation’s most vital historic moments at KC’s treasured establishments, 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 extra at http://www.KC.org/