Transportation leaders meet to discuss World Cup preparations in KC, beyond
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Transportation leaders recently met to discuss how they are preparing to ensure that hundreds of thousands of fans get to World Cup matches safely with little more than a year to go.
On Wednesday, April 30, U.S. Congresswoman Sharice Davids (D-KS) hosted a Capitol Hill briefing with transit agencies nationwide as the founder and co-chair of the Congressional FIFA World Cup 2026 Caucus.
“The 2026 World Cup is a massive opportunity for our communities. We must be prepared,” said Davids. “That means making sure our transit systems are safe, reliable, and ready to welcome the world. These investments aren’t just about the tournament — they’re a down payment on the future of our cities. I’m excited to keep working with local, state, and federal partners to make sure we get this right and our communities succeed.”
Representative Davids noted that the briefing highlighted the critical role transportation is expected to play in ensuring the World Cup’s success.
“America is honored to play host to one of the world’s biggest sporting events – the World Cup,” said Representative Buddy Carter (R-GA). “In 2026, people from near and far will visit cities nationwide, including Atlanta, to cheer on their teams, and it is essential that communities have the resources to travelers and keep them safe. This is an opportunity to put our best foot forward and showcase America’s transit system to the entire world, and it’s critical that we have federal to do just that.”
The Congresswoman indicated that representatives from host cities came together on Wednesday to share projects already underway, anticipated challenges and resources needed from the government. With just over a year left until the start of the tournament, the event meeting served as a call to action.
“In 411 days, the Kansas City region will host its first 2026 World Cup match,” said Frank White III, President & CEO, Kansas City Area Transportation Authority (KCATA). “It is estimated that 650,000 unique visitors will see for themselves what makes Kansas City so special. And public transportation will be the connection ensuring a memorable fan experience, no matter where you call home.”
According to federal leaders, the 2026 FIFA World Cup is expected to be the largest sporting event in history, with 78 matches across the U.S. over 39 days and 11 cities in 9 states. Each host city will not only manage matches, but also daily celebrations and movements of tens of thousands of visitors.
“Johnson County, Kansas has been fortunate to be a bit ahead of the curve in preparing for the World Cup by getting vehicles, staffing, and a plan for transit service in place nearly two years before the event,” said Joshua C. Powers, Director, Transit Division, Johnson County. “That said, even with the partnership of our cities, Transportation Authority, and our state government, we know that we absolutely need the of federal funding to make these plans a reality. The Federal Transit istration and USDOT have been critical in getting to this point, but without funding for transit operations, we will not be able to respond to the World Cup in the manner the event deserves.”
To meet FIFA’s requirements, Davids said each stadium is required to be ed by a nearby city airport capable of transporting at least 1,450 engers per hour. The economic impact is expected to be significant, with an estimated 850,000 full-time jobs generated nationwide, $30.5 billion in output and $17.2 billion in GDP.
“Federal transit investment is delivering strong returns — modernizing systems, reducing maintenance backlogs, and channeling 77 percent of federal funds to U.S. businesses” said Paul P. Skoutelas, President and CEO, American Public Transportation Association (APTA). “Public transportation plays a key role in cities hosting successful large-scale events like concerts and sports games — driving revenue, creating jobs, and proving transit investments are powerful economic catalysts. The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the equivalent of hosting 45 Super Bowls within just 39 days across 11 U.S. cities and will require public transit agencies to significantly expand capacity, hours, and safety resources—all of which demands additional funding to maintain reliable service for the 5.8 million fans organizers are expecting.”
Along with Davids, she said speakers included representatives from the KCATA, Johnson County, Kansas, Transit, North Central Texas Council of Governments, Dallas Aea Rapid Transit, LA Metro, San Francisco Bay Area Rapid Transit District, Greater Attleboro Taunton Regional Transit Authority, U.S. Department of Transportation and more.
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