FIFA Fan Festival kicks off as Kansas City prepares for global spotlight
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)
The World Cup may not kick off until Thursday, but the celebration is already underway in Kansas City.
Thousands of fans gathered Tuesday for the opening day of the FIFA Fan Festival, an event designed to give soccer fans a World Cup experience without the high cost of match tickets while helping showcase Kansas City to visitors.
The festival, located at the National World War I Museum and Memorial, serves as the official fan hub for Kansas City's six World Cup matches and can accommodate up to 25,000 people per day.
For many attendees, the event was about more than soccer.
"I think that something like this is vital for the community. Camaraderie, bringing this city together. This is wonderful," Kansas City resident Brandon Doherty said.
Visitors were greeted with live music, food trucks, games for children, a World Cup merchandise store and booths featuring some Kansas City brands, including Purina, Hallmark and the Kansas City Royals.
"KC2026 has a human capacity of 25 thousand people per day at any given time. We're ready to welcome as many people who want to come be a part of this experience," Michael Zerman of Purina, told ABC 17 News.
For local businesses, the event provides an opportunity to reach an international audience expected to grow throughout the tournament.
"I grew up my whole life playing soccer and when I saw the opportunity to be able to be part of the fan fest, to go along with it, it kind of fits perfectly with something I would have loved, been involved with years ago," said Dan McCall, owner of the Good Part food truck. "We had some French fans come up.”
The opening day of the fan festival also served as a test of how the city will handle one of the biggest concerns surrounding the tournament: summer heat. This year’s World Cup is already expected to be one of the hottest on record, and Tuesday in Kansas City was no different.
With temperatures climbing into the 90s, organizers installed four water refilling stations and large cooling fans throughout the festival grounds. Fans are also allowed to bring empty plastic water bottles that can be refilled on site.
Transportation is another area city leaders have emphasized as they prepare to welcome visitors.
Beginning June 11, ConnectKC26 shuttle routes will connect key World Cup destinations, including Kansas City International Airport, Arrowhead Stadium and the Central Bus Mall located two blocks from the Fan Festival site at 27th Street and Grand Boulevard.
Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas encouraged fans across Missouri to make the trip.
"Frankly, if you come to Kansas City you will find a good way to get around on public transit. There's the free streetcar system, there's the bus system we have going around so basically if you are sitting in Mid-Missouri asking if this is something you should get an experience in, the answer is absolutely yes," Lucas told ABC 17 News.
The FIFA Fan Festival is free, though admission is subject to capacity limits. Organizers are encouraging fans to reserve passes in advance as Kansas City prepares to welcome the world over the coming weeks.
