Official FIFA World Cup 26™ Kansas City Host City Poster
THE BEAUTIFUL GAME.
OUR BEAUTIFUL CITY.
TOGETHER AS ONE.
Selected from more than 100 submissions from artists across Kansas and Missouri, we are proud to unveil “Woven Together” by Jadie Arnett as Kansas City’s official Host City Poster. Jadie’s design captures the energy, spirit and momentum of a region that’s ready to shine on the world’s biggest stage.
ABOUT THE DESIGN
“Woven Together” uses the universal symbol of the soccer scarf to tell a unique story in three vibrant scenes. First, fans travel to a match against the backdrop of sunflowers, Wichita’s “Keeper of the Plains” statue and icons of the state’s aviation history before journeying into Kansas City, Missouri, passing the Bartle Hall Sky Stations. The second, captures the action and intensity of match play inside Kansas City Stadium. The final scene depicts a victory celebration with BBQ and jazz music in front of Kansas City’s Union Station, a fountain representing the city’s moniker as the “City of Fountains” and a heart as a symbol of soccer’s heartland.
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Jadie Arnett grew up in Columbia, Missouri. She relocated to Kansas City to work as a designer for a specialty brewing company where she has been for nearly three years.
Jadie brough her vision to life with mentorship from Chandler Johnson, art director at the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce and president of AIGA Kansas City. He is also a founder of Pick Progress project, an initiative that celebrates the Black experience through artistic expression.
ABOUT THE COMPETITION
Each of the 16 FIFA World Cup 26™ Host Cities were invited to create a poster celebrating local culture and tournament pride. For Kansas City’s contest, a panel of regional arts and culture leaders selected five finalists, with Jadie Arnett’s design selected as the winner by FIFA and the panel. She receives a $11,000 prize, and her poster will be featured on official FIFA World Cup 26™ merchandise, signage and more – showcasing the story of our region, our passion and carrying our momentum into the global spotlight.
ABOUT THE FINALISTS
Max Gregg
Max Gregg is currently a senior at the University of Central Missouri and will graduate with a BFA in graphic design in May 2025. Throughout his time at school, he has participated in various internships at a global architecture firm and design agency and engages in freelance projects between his studies. He has lived in Kansas City his whole life and has been pursuing design and illustration seriously since 2020, but he has loved illustration and storytelling for as long as he can remember.
Julianne Melograno
Julianne Melograno is a designer who loves branding, social media, and finding simple solutions for complex ideas. Her work is characterized by a clean, clever style that is full of personality. Submitting a FIFA poster design marked a career highlight for her—a love letter to Kansas City, a place that fuels her creativity.
Outside of design, Julianne is a collector of forgotten things—including mid-century ads, vintage ephemera, and bold food packaging—all of which influence her creative approach. When she’s not thrifting for the next great find, she can be found cooking, reading, or exploring Kansas City’s best coffee spots.
Tom Patrick
Tom Patrick is originally from Kentucky. After graduating from the Columbus College of Art & Design in Ohio, Tom moved to Kansas City to work in various creative departments for a number of years before starting out on his own as a freelance illustrator and designer. For more than twenty years, he has worked in Kansas City creating images for a variety of clients—regional, national and international.
Tom resides in Kansas City with his wife, who is also a freelance illustrator with a similar story. Their son has grown up there and works at a local creative firm. The FIFA World Cup 26™ Kansas City poster contest has been a fun project for Tom to be a part of. He is thrilled that his work was among the finalist designs because he knows what a strong creative community Kansas City has.
Eric Winter
Eric Winter is an Associate Professor of Graphic Design, where he teaches a diverse range of subjects from design foundations to career preparation. Originally from a small farming community in North Central Kansas, he now resides in South Kansas City. Winter holds an MFA in Visual Communication from Kansas State University.
His professional experience encompasses roles as a civilian designer on Fort Riley Military Base, an environmental graphic designer for a global architecture firm, and a freelance brand designer. Winter’s professional work and research into design pedagogy have received recognition and publication both regionally and internationally, and he has held esteemed positions on multiple boards.