Bill would provide transportation improvement funds for World Cup host cities

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - A bill that would create a transportation improvement grant program for cities expected to play host to international competitions in the coming years has been introduced in the U.S. Senate.

U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) announced on Thursday, April 3, that he has ed Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) as of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation to reintroduce the Transportation Assistance for Olympic and World Cup Cities Act.

“It was a tremendous feat to secure a spot as a host city during the 2026 World Cup, and I have no doubt that Kansas City will be a welcoming community for hundreds of thousands of soccer fans from around the world,” said Sen. Moran. “Preparations are already underway for the games, and this legislation will local community and agency efforts to improve infrastructure to connect fans with businesses, hotels, the airport and other host cities during the World Cup.”

Moran said the bill would provide federal funds to World Cup host communities for transportation preparations. The funds would ensure that fans, workers and goods arrive successfully at international sports competitions expected to take place in the U.S. - including the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

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“With less than 500 days until Seattle hosts its first 2026 World Cup game, we need the Department of Transportation to get in the game and host cities as they work to showcase the best of American innovation and hospitality,” said Sen. Cantwell. “This bill will help ensure the hundreds of thousands of fans visiting Seattle can get to and from games safely and efficiently by improving coordinated transportation planning across the Pacific Northwest.”

The Senators noted that the U.S., Canada and Mexico were chosen to host the 2026 World Cup. Now, 11 cities in the U.S., including Kansas City, are in the midst of preparations. Transportation demands are expected to increase greatly across the host cities with hundreds of thousands of additional visitors.

Meanwhile, Los Angeles was chosen to host the 2028 Summer Olympics.

“We are pleased to see this important transportation assistance legislation introduced in of Kansas City’s World Cup efforts,” said Pam Kramer, Chief Executive Officer of KC2026. “Senator Moran continues to be a leader in transportation, mobility, safety and security in the Kansas City region. This legislation will give much-needed to our efforts to ensure safe and efficient transportation of people and goods throughout the region during the World Cup. More importantly, these investments and will help us create sustained and lasting impact beyond the World Cup, improving mobility in the region well beyond 2026.”

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Moran indicated that the legislation would create a grant program istered by the U.S. Department of Transportation to provide these host cities with funds to improve transportation during the World Cup or Olympic Games.

“On behalf of the KCATA, we are grateful that Senator Jerry Moran is demonstrating his foresight and leadership by introducing bipartisan legislation that will help us, and other host cities effectively host these games and move people to where they need to be,” said Frank White III, President and CEO of the Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA). “The Senator’s outreach and understanding of our needs to serve both visitors and residents will help us with effective planning and preparation to host sizable crowds on our transit systems next summer.”

The legislators said the grants would go toward new roads, the expansion of light rails, new buses, the creation of bike lanes, improvements to existing roadways and improvements to airport terminals.

“We are excited for the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup to take place in the United States,” said Cindy Parlow Cone, U.S. Soccer Federation President. “We appreciate Senators Moran and Cantwell for introducing legislation to provide the 11 U.S. cities hosting World Cup matches, and the dozens more cities hosting team base camps, fan fests and other events and activities, with the resources they will need to welcome the hundreds of thousands of people that will travel here from around the world.”

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Moran also noted that the bill would provide resources to host cities, allow the Department of Transportation to provide technical and planning assistance, allow the Department of Transportation to facilitatione the sharing of public transportation equipment and direct the Department of Commerce to study the economic impact of these events.

“The USOPC strongly s the Transportation Assistance for Olympic and World Cup Host Cities Act, and we thank Senators Moran and Cantwell for their leadership on this issue. This legislation is crucial to ensuring the United States is prepared to host the decade of sport ahead, from the 2026 FIFA World Cup to the 2028 Summer Olympic and Paralympic Games in Los Angeles and the 2034 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Games in Salt Lake City. This bill will make it possible for cities to enhance their infrastructure and provide a seamless experience for athletes and fans alike. The essential transportation assistance set forward in this bill will help make these global events a success and demonstrate American excellence on the world stage,” read a statement from the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee.

For more information about the World Cup in Kansas City, click HERE.

To read the full text of the legislation, click HERE.