FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (November 21, 2024) – KC2026, the nonprofit responsible for planning the FIFA World Cup 26™ in Kansas City, has expanded its team with the appointments of several key positions.
Lindsey Douglas, Director of Integrated Operations, Mallory Cage, Director of Fan Festival and Events, Matt Smith, Director of Marketing, and Kateri Hartman, Social Media and Content Manager have all joined the organization.
“As we continue building out our staff, these roles represent important focus areas needed to capitalize on this historic event and own Kansas City’s momentum,” says Pam Kramer, president and CEO of KC2026. “From delivering a uniquely Kansas City FIFA Fan Festival™ experience to leveraging marketing opportunities before, during and after the tournament, these talented and experienced individuals provide the varied perspectives and industry best practices needed to unite our many stakeholders, rallying our region to show the world who we are.”
Lindsey Douglas, Director of Integrated Operations
Douglas, a former project manager from Burns & McDonnell and the deputy secretary of transportation for the state of Kansas from 2019-2022, will be the strategic facilitator for KC2026, teaming with each of the functional leaders to set strategies, priorities and KPIs for primary workstreams. She will also interface with government agencies, including Kansas City, Missouri, on shared work packages, projects and priorities, and will manage the funding, shared cost, reporting and procurement requirements across jurisdictions. Douglas leverages extensive experience developing and managing complex, publicly funded projects like the $10 billion Kansas Eisenhower Legacy Transportation Program. Her past experience includes serving as senior director of public affairs for Union Pacific Railroad for Arizona, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois and Wisconsin.
Mallory Cage, Director of Fan Festival and Events
As the director of Fan Festival and Events, Cage will be responsible for curating and executing the official FIFA Fan Festival, as well as other official events leading up to the FIFA 2026 World Cup™. These community events will focus on bringing Kansas City and the region together to celebrate and experience the impact of the games, as well as showcase all Kansas City has to offer. With over a decade of experience in event strategy and execution, Mallory crafted impactful experiences for sports, community, and corporate organizations, including the Fiesta Bowl in Phoenix, Augeo Marketing, and the Kansas City Sports Commission and Foundation. Her early years as a collegiate swimmer fostered a deep passion for the unifying power of sports in communities, guiding her commitment to creating inclusive, transformative events.
Matt Smith, Director of Marketing
Most recently the director of marketing at Dimensional Innovations, where he led all marketing and communications initiatives and helped generate consistent pipeline growth, Smith began his marketing career on the agency side, where he worked with a diverse group of clients, including the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, Wendy’s, DICK’S Sporting Goods, Intel and Gatorade. In his role as director of marketing for KC2026, Smith will be responsible for the planning, development and implementation of KC2026 marketing strategies, FIFA World Cup 26™-led campaigns, community-driven initiatives and communication efforts.
Kateri Hartman, Social Media and Content Manager
Hartman, previously the assistant athletic director of marketing and promotions at the University of Nebraska Omaha, will focus on developing and executing social and digital strategies to help engage, inform, and communicate with target audiences. As KC2026’s social media and content manager, she will create and curate content while collaborating with stakeholders and partners to elevate the destination, inform local communities and visitors, and amplify identified activations and events for FIFA World Cup 26™.
Hi-res headshots of Director of Integrated Operations Lindsey Douglas, Director of Fan Festival and Events Mallory Cage, Director of Marketing Matt Smith, and Social and Content Manager Kateri Hartman are available here.
For more information about KC2026 and FIFA World Cup 26™, please click here. General media inquiries can be submitted directly to FIFA at media@fifa.org.
About KC2026
A nonprofit organization overseeing strategy and delivering host city duties for 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. Learn more at www.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 www.KC.org.
About FIFA World Cup 26™
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, 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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CONTACT:
Elliott Scott
Kansas City Sports Commission | KC2026
escott@sportkc.org