FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Nov. 17, 2025) — KC2026 officially unveiled its FIFA World Cup 26™ Volunteer Center at Kansas City’s iconic Union Station, where volunteers will learn, train and engage as they prepare to welcome the world with authentic Midwest hospitality next summer. The regional Host Committee also announced JE Dunn Construction as an Official Supporter of the Kansas City World Cup 2026 Host City. Founded in Kansas City in 1924, JE Dunn recently built the Kansas City Current’s stadium and maintains a goal of showcasing the region’s innovation, collaboration and authenticity on a global stage.
“Kansas City has been our home for more than a century, and we’re proud to have helped shape its skyline, strengthen its communities and make history alongside the teams and people who define it,” Gordon Lansford, JE Dunn president and CEO, said. “That same spirit of pride and connection is what makes the World Cup such an exciting moment for our city, and we’re thrilled to help bring fans together to celebrate Kansas City on the global stage.”
JE Dunn joins existing Official Kansas City World Cup 2026 Host City Supporters: Black & Veatch, Nestlé Purina PetCare, Populous and The University of Kansas Health System.
“JE Dunn has helped build our region with the same vision and confident ambition required to deliver big next summer,” said Pam Kramer, chief executive officer of KC2026. “Civic leaders like JE Dunn have joined us as partners, prepared to come together and achieve sustained impact for our region following the World Cup.”
FIFA World Cup 26™ Volunteer Center – Kansas City
Monday’s ribbon-cutting celebrates robust volunteer interest from applicants across Missouri and Kansas. More than 15,000 people applied to volunteer in Kansas City during the FIFA World Cup 26™. Of those, more than half live within 50 miles of Kansas City. Kansas City will need as many as 6,000 volunteers for the FIFA World Cup 26™. With volunteer applications now closed, Volunteer Team Tryouts begin Tuesday, Nov. 18, 2025, and continue through Jan. 24, 2026.
“Our volunteers will truly be the heartbeat of the FIFA World Cup experience in Kansas City,” said Kramer. “We want to provide them with a world-class place to call their own — a home base to recharge, relax and connect. Union Station is an ideal site to host our volunteers, given its centrality in the Kansas City region and proximity to major tournament events like FIFA Fan Festival, just steps away at the National WWI Museum and Memorial.”
Leading up to the tournament, the center will be open for volunteer applicants Tuesday through Saturday (excluding holidays), starting with two daily Volunteer Team Tryout sessions, but it is closed to the general public.
Designed to be a welcoming and dynamic space, the Volunteer Center is a destination for Volunteer Team Tryouts, training and a respite before and after shifts. The walls are covered with engaging tournament trivia and vibrant colors, and the space is equipped with amenities for downtime, including TV screens and tables for foosball and teqball — a soccer-table tennis hybrid game.
“Volunteers are essential to the success of the tournament,” said Lori Thomas, director of volunteer operations for KC2026. “They bring the spirit and diversity of Kansas City to life, and we want every visitor and community member to feel welcome.”
FIFA received more than 1 million volunteer applications for the tournament from around the world.
Selected volunteers will have the opportunity to develop valuable professional skills and build lifelong friendships while participating in a once-in-a-lifetime experience. In addition, volunteers will receive an exclusive Adidas uniform, meals and refreshments during their shifts, unique recognition items and hands-on exposure to the behind-the-scenes operations of the largest single-sport event.
Volunteer roles are diverse and vary from language services, wayfinding support, airport greeters, ticketing, team services, media operations and hospitality. Volunteers may be based at various locations, such as the FIFA Fan Festival™ at the National WWI Museum and Memorial, Kansas City Stadium and Kansas City International Airport.
For more information on the FIFA Volunteer experience, please visit kansascityfwc26.com/volunteer
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About KC2026
A nonprofit organization overseeing strategy and delivering Host City duties for the FIFA World Cup 26™, KC2026 will plan, construct and implement all aspects of Kansas City’s largest sports and fan engagement event in the region’s history.
KC2026 planning efforts are supported by its Official Kansas City World Cup 2026 Host City Supporters: Black & Veatch, Purina PetCare, Populous and The University of Kansas Health System. These global and regional companies are leaders in their respective industries and represent key sectors of KC’s economy. Host City Supporters are civic and brand partners who are helping bring the FIFA World Cup 26™ to life in Kansas City. Learn more at KansasCityFWC26.com.
About JE Dunn Construction
JE Dunn Construction, founded in 1924 in Kansas City, is the sixth-largest domestic general building contractor in the United States, with offices in 26 locations. We are indispensable business partners because we prioritize building authentic partnerships with our clients and within the communities where we build. We align around a combined vision while providing clients with proven, credible expertise, ongoing collaboration, unmatched communication and JE Dunn’s robust suite of services. We have a resolute responsibility to our clients, communities and employees to focus on solutions, not problems, while delivering results that exceed expectations.
About Greater Kansas City
Home to 2.5 million people, Kansas City is a vibrant metro in the heart of the U.S., known as the “KC Heartland.” An all-new single terminal at Kansas City International Airport welcomes guests by air, while 85% of the U.S. is less than a two-day drive away. The region’s red-hot sports culture is embraced every 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.
About The FIFA World Cup 26™
The FIFA World Cup 26™ will be the biggest sporting event ever, with three Host Countries, 16 Host Cities, 48 teams and 104 matches uniting an entire continent to showcase a momentous new tournament format. With more countries, cities, teams and games, the FIFA World Cup 26™ will be the most inclusive tournament ever, engaging millions of fans across 16 unique stadiums and billions worldwide. The tournament will take place in June and July 2026. For the latest FIFA World Cup 26™ information, please visit the FIFA World Cup 26™ website. For media representatives wishing to stay up to date on all things 2026, please register via the FIFA Media Hub.
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