Kansas City’s Game Plan for World Cup Transportation
Kansas City builds a world-class playbook for transit in 2026
BY KRITHIKA SELVARAJOO
KC streetcar branded for the World Cup. PHOTO / BRANDON PARIGO
Kansas City is gearing up to host one of the world’s biggest sporting events: the 2026 World Cup. The city will welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors — including tens of thousands of international travelers — to stadiums, Fan Fest events and fan activations across Kansas City. Making sure everyone gets to the right place on time is a massive logistical challenge, but city and regional leaders say Kansas City is ready.
Jason Sims, director of transportation for KC2026, emphasized the magnitude of the event.
“We are hosting one of the biggest sporting events and are estimating around 650,000 visitors in Kansas City, with close to half of them being international,” Sims said. “When people come into Kansas City, we want them to feel that Midwest hospitality. We want to deliver ‘Kansas City magic,’ and we’re doing so by creating a fully independent transit system to move people safely and efficiently across the city for the World Cup.”
KC2026, the local World Cup organizing committee, has set up its own independently managed transit system for the tournament. Sims’ team has secured 225 charter buses to provide three core services: Regional Connectivity, Match-Day shuttles and Airport-to-Downtown service. The buses, staffed with World Cup ambassadors and security personnel, will run every 15-20 minutes, ensuring a seamless experience for ticketholders.
For regional connectivity, buses will run from 17 strategic locations, chosen around hotel clusters, directly to the official Fan Fest at the National WWI Museum and Memorial.
“We’ll be moving people from Lawrence, Johnson County and other surrounding areas directly to Fan Fest,” Sims said. “Fans can then hop on additional buses to stadiums, parties or other activations across the city.” The service will operate daily from June 11 through July 13, starting with the first World Cup match to two days after the final Kansas City match.
Match-Day service will handle the six match days at Kansas City Stadium. Buses will run from four locations to the stadium. There will also be a Fan Fest Express, with bus services running from Fan Fest to Kansas City Stadium. Over 100 ADA golf carts and accessibility services will also be available for fans with mobility needs.
"When people come into Kansas City, we want them to feel that Midwest hospitality. We want to deliver 'Kansas City magic' ... "
— Jason Sims, director of transportation for KC2026
Kansas City's day-to-day transit needs will remain uninterrupted by the World Cup. PHOTO / BRANDON PARIGO
Measures are in place to reduce crowds as well.
“We’re incentivizing early arrivals to spread out demand and maximize efficiency,” Sims said.
Airport-to-downtown service will connect Kansas City International Airport with the East Village Transit Center, every 20 minutes that allow visitors to then hop onto the KC Streetcar and rideshare options for their last-mile connections.
A key part of ensuring this system is efficient, especially for international visitors, is comprehensive wayfinding and digital guidance. Fans arriving from the airport will be met with bilingual KC2026 World Cup ambassadors who will guide them on where to go. There will also be clear signage and color-coded symbols for accessibility purposes. The official World Cup app will also provide directions in at least eight languages, helping visitors navigate the 17 regional connectivity points, Fan Fest, stadium shuttles and local activations.
“We’re focusing on delivering a great experience,” Sims said. “Visitors will know exactly where to go, even if they’ve never been to Kansas City before.”
Sims hopes the World Cup will leave a lasting transit legacy.
“We want residents and visitors to see how transit should operate and continue investing in it,” Sims said. “The plan includes detailed transportation demand management strategies — communications, media campaigns and app-based guidance to manage the flow of fans. Kansas City’s approach could hopefully serve as a model for future mega-events, including potential [FIFA] Women’s World Cup or Rugby World Cup matches.”
Local transit agencies are also supporting the effort to showcase the importance of transportation in Kansas City, though the KC2026 system operates independently.
“We plan to enhance service for residents and visitors while the World Cup is going on, and KC2026’s independent transportation system allows us to focus on day-to-day transit needs without disruption,” said Chuck Ferguson, chief operations officer at Kansas City Area Transportation Authority or KCATA.
Kiona Sinks (MBA ’21), director of marketing and communications for KCATA, is excited about this opportunity.
“I’m excited to combine my love for Kansas City with the opportunity to help communicate KCATA’s enthusiasm for this once-in-a-lifetime moment,” Sinks said. “KCATA already plays a vital role in connecting our community every day, and it will be incredible to see that role elevated as the region relies on us to move people efficiently and reliably throughout the city during the event.”
Kansas City’s transit game plan is designed to score big on efficiency and experience. Fans and residents will get to experience what it’s like to incorporate coordinated and efficient public transit in a car-centric city, and the hope is that the momentum and excitement towards public transit carries long after the final whistle.
"KCATA already plays a vital role in connecting our community every day, and it will be incredible to see that role elevated ... "