News
June 12, 2025
Populous and Purina Lead as Key Supporters of the Kansas City FIFA World Cup 26™ Host City
The countdown has started: the FIFA World Cup 26 inaugural match will be held in one year.
In commemoration of this milestone, Host City organizing committee KC2026 held a news conference at Union Station in Kansas City, Missouri, our global headquarters. At the event, the committee unveiled a countdown clock and announced their first official Kansas City World Cup 2026 Host City Supporters: Populous and Nestlé Purina PetCare.
“We are incredibly proud to have the support of both Populous, a global design firm specializing in sports and entertainment, headquartered in Kansas City, and Purina, a leading pet care and nutrition company deeply rooted in our Animal Health Corridor,” said Pam Kramer, CEO of KC2026. “Their commitment as Host City Supporters signifies our talent, strength and diversity as a region that has already arrived on the world stage. Kansas City is prepared to showcase its vibrant atmosphere, strong sports culture and economic opportunities to 650,000 visitors and five billion viewers worldwide.”
“So many of the spaces and experiences we’ve designed have been at the heart of historic moments,” said Bruce Miller, global chair and CEO of Populous. “Hosting the FIFA World Cup is a once-in-a-lifetime event not just for the greater Kansas City area, but for the entire Midwest region. We’re honored to lend our global expertise to help Kansas City shine under this brightest of spotlights, and we’re ready to assist in delivering an experience that World Cup fans will never forget.”
The first match of the FIFA World Cup 26™ will happen in Mexico City on June 11, 2026, with the first match in Kansas City kicking off on June 16, 2026. Kansas City will host six matches at Arrowhead Stadium:
- Group Stage — Tuesday, June 16, 2026
- Group Stage — Saturday, June 20, 2026
- Group Stage — Thursday, June 25, 2026
- Group Stage — Saturday, June 27, 2026
- Round of 32 — Friday, July 3, 2026
- Quarter-Final — Saturday, July 11, 2026
Official supporters of the Kansas City World Cup 2026 Host City are key civic and brand partners who are helping bring FIFA World Cup 26™ to life in Kansas City. These are mission-aligned organizations that go beyond sponsorship. They’re contributing to community engagement, regional storytelling and milestone moments leading to the matches. Their support reflects the spirit of Kansas City and reinforces the goal of delivering a globally visible, locally rooted tournament experience that drives long-term impact for the region. The official Kansas City World Cup 2026 Host City Supporter program allows local organizations to play a central role in supporting Host Cities for the FIFA World Cup 26™.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur, adipisicing elit. Non facere corporis et expedita sit nam amet aut necessitatibus at dolore enim quis impedit eius libero, harum tempore laboriosam dolor cumque.
Lorem, ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipisicing elit. Illo temporibus vero veritatis eveniet, placeat dolorem sunt at provident tenetur omnis, dicta exercitationem. Expedita quod aspernatur molestias eum? Totam, incidunt quos.