FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (Nov. 6, 2025) — Kansas City is excited to celebrate another milestone as the region counts down the days to the FIFA World Cup 26™. KC2026 and the Kansas City Power & Light District have partnered to host a free, region-wide watch party for the Final Draw for the FIFA World Cup 26™. This celebratory event marks the pivotal moment when FIFA will begin to assign Group Stage matchups for the FIFA World Cup 26™.
The FIFA World Cup 26™ Final Draw is taking place in Washington D.C. at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, but the party is happening right here in the heart of the Midwest. Fans are encouraged to arrive early and spend the day celebrating this major milestone.
“All year, we have been building up to the Final Draw,” said Pam Kramer, CEO of KC2026. “Everything has led to this moment, and we are confident in our preparation and look forward to welcoming teams and fans in the summer of ’26. But before then, we’re thrilled to celebrate with our region.”
The Draw at KC Live!
The event will transform the Power & Light District into a high-energy fan hub for this once-in-a-lifetime experience.
- Friday, December 5
- Doors open at 9 a.m. CT; festivities begin at 10 a.m. CT
- KC Live! in the Power & Light District
- The watch party will be hosted by local soccer favorites, former Sporting Kansas City commentator and current FOX Sports commentator Nate Bukaty and 2006 FIFA World Cup player and former Kansas City Wizards defender, Jimmy Conrad. There will also be a special appearance from Matt Besler, former Sporting KC and US Men’s National Team Defender.
- Attendees can kick off their day with coffee pop-ups, and photos and autographs with local soccer players, plus giveaways and photo opportunities.
About The Final Draw
The FIFA World Cup 26™ will be the largest sports event history, representing a 48-team tournament hosted across the United States, Mexico and Canada. Kansas City is set to host four Group Stage matches (June 16, 20, 25 and 27, 2026), a Round of 32 match (July 3, 2026) and a Quarter-Final match (July 11, 2026) at Arrowhead Stadium, which will be known as Kansas City Stadium during the tournament.
The Final Draw will capture the world’s attention, uniting FIFA officials, team ambassadors, delegates from all Host Cities and international media as the teams’ groups are finalized.
- During the Final Draw, qualified teams will be placed into 12 groups of four teams each.
- The host countries (United States, Canada and Mexico) have already been placed in groups A, B and D, respectively.
- Teams in Groups E, F and J will play their group stage matches in Kansas City.
- While the teams’ groups will be known on December 5, the full match schedule, including which group-stage matches are allocated to specific venues like Kansas City’s stadium, requires a separate finalization process by FIFA™.
Following team placements in the Final Draw, teams will deliver Team Base Camp preferences to FIFA. Kansas City has up to three potential Team Base Camps: Sporting KC Training Facility in Kansas City, KS, KC Current Training Facility in Riverside, MO and Rock Chalk Park in Lawerence, KS. Team Base Camp locations will be officially announced by FIFA in late spring of 2026.
For more information about the FIFA World Cup 26™ Final Draw visit kansascityfwc26.com and follow KC2026 on Instagram.
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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, 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
[email protected]