Courtesy: Populous
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
KC2026-led legacy initiative sets the stage for investment and regional prosperity during the FIFA World Cup 26™
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Oct. 30, 2025) – KC2026 is redefining what it means to be a FIFA World Cup 26™ Host Committee, with a focus on sustained and long-term economic impact. At the Kansas City Area Development Council’s (KCADC) Annual Meeting on Thursday, KC2026 unveiled KCHouse, a bold, curated world-class hospitality and business-attraction venue designed to showcase the Kansas City region’s creativity, innovation and collaborative spirit to the world. KCHouse will serve as the primary hospitality venue for global leaders, civic stakeholders and business partners, offering a place to meet, connect and represent Kansas City.
KCHouse will transform a retail space on the Country Club Plaza (111 Nichols Rd.) into a dynamic, fully immersive hub for global connections and regional opportunity. The physical transformation is set to begin in April 2026, curating a sophisticated environment that will blend business, culture and hospitality, and position the region to drive long-term benefit from the FIFA World Cup 26™. It will bring global innovation and local hospitality together through thoughtful design and precise execution.
“KCHouse is where the world will discover the heart of Kansas City, and where our region will forge new global relationships that fuel growth long after the final whistle,” said Pam Kramer, CEO of KC2026. “This initiative embodies our goal of delivering measurable, sustained and long-term impact for our civic, public and private partners who share a vision to elevate the entire region on a global stage.”
Courtesy: Populous
KCHouse will be the Midwest’s front door to the world, representing both Kansas and Missouri and the unified spirit that defines the region’s approach to the world’s most-watched sporting competition.
KCHouse will operate by invitation. In addition to global executives, investors and innovators, sponsors of KCHouse gain exclusive access and position their brands at the very center of Kansas City’s global moment. The partnerships offer a platform to showcase the region’s expertise in architecture, engineering, sports and agriculture while aligning with the world’s most-watched sporting competition.
Corporations interested in partnership opportunities can contact the KC2026 team at partnerships@kansascityfwc26.com.
An Economic Catalyst for Global Connections
KCHouse is designed to channel global attention into long-term investment, job growth, business expansion and talent attraction. Through curated events and B2B engagements, it will connect the region’s leading industries — including design, engineering, construction, tech, agriculture, advanced manufacturing and sports — with international investors and trade partners.
KCADC will lead regional business-attraction engagement and programming, positioning Kansas City as a prime destination for global investment.
“The KC region has an incredible opportunity to showcase our market’s business environment, sector strengths and lifestyle amenities when the world arrives next summer,” said Tim Cowden, president & CEO at KCADC. “Our team has helped attract nearly $10.5 billion of new capital investment into the region over the last five years. We will use KCHouse to further this momentum as we host high-level decision-makers representing the world’s largest brands, opening their eyes to the benefits of doing business here.”
KCHouse will also highlight Kansas City’s vibrant creative economy, showcasing local chefs, brewers, distillers, artists and entertainers, offering visiting executives and partners an authentic experience of the city’s cultural and culinary excellence.
Populous Lends Design Excellence and Global Expertise
Populous, an Official Kansas City World Cup 2026 Host City Supporter, has designed KCHouse and the FIFA Fan Festival™, leveraging its global expertise and local insight to ensure Kansas City delivers an unforgettable experience for visitors from around the world. KCHouse will blend modern sophistication with the warmth and texture of the Midwest, highlighting Kansas City’s reputation as the country’s most entrepreneurial city.
“Every detail, from the architecture to the art and cuisine, will tell the story of Kansas City’s makers, innovators and dreamers,” said Kelly Holton, senior principal at Populous. “We are proud to design a space that welcomes entrepreneurs and reflects the best of our city’s industries, talent, creativity and hospitality. KCHouse will be rooted in Kansas City and designed for the world as a gathering place for those shaping what’s next.”
The guest experience at KCHouse will be personalized, elevated and unmistakably Kansas City: warm, creative and welcoming. Hospitality efforts will reflect the region’s reputation for genuine connection and exceptional service, featuring locally inspired menus, craft beverages, live performances and design collaborations. A three-floor venue, KCHouse will present a curated exhibition floor on the first level for partners to showcase their stories, a flexible lounge featuring private meeting pods and a stage for global thought leadership presentations, and a rooftop outdoor space featuring cocktail hours paired with jazz and acoustic performances.
###
About KC
2026 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, Nestlé Purina PetCare and Populous. These global 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 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.
Kansas City, home to renowned arts and culture, offers live entertainment in the downtown Power & Light District, as well as 40 jazz clubs throughout the area. Find food from James Beard Award-winning chefs and sample true KC tradition at more than 100 barbecue restaurants across the metro. Dive into some of the country’s most significant historical moments at KC’s treasured institutions, from the National WWI Museum and Memorial and the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum to the Negro Leagues Baseball Museum and the American Jazz Museum. Learn more at KC.org.
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.
CONTACT:
KC2026 Haley Harrison-Lee or Savannah O’Dell
media@kansascityfwc26.com
