Overland Park hotel won’t be part of FIFA’s plans for World Cup 2026

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. (KCTV) - A Johnson County landmark is no longer part of FIFA’s plan for World Cup 2026.

A spokesperson for Overland Park said FIFA notified the city and Sheraton Overland Park Hotel management that the site is not longer under consideration to be designated as a team base camp hotel.

The city said the hotel property is too large to use as a team site according to FIFA.

“We will continue to work with FIFA to host any of the many other groups they’ll be bringing to the metropolitan area for the World Cup,” the city said in a statement.

Soccer officials from multiple countries have already scouted hotels and sites across the region.

They are looking for a hotel that would host up to 120 of the team’s travelling party as well as training facilities for a home base during the World Cup next year.

“Any of the 48 teams that qualify for the 2026 men’s World Cup - they have the opportunity to choose their team basecamp,” said Caitlin Carducci, KC Current General Manager.

Sporting KC’s Com Minerals National Performance Center, Kansas City Current’s University of Kansas Health System Training Center in Riverside, and the University of Kansas Soccer Facility at Rock Chalk Park, in Lawrence are all on available to use during the tournament.

The teams are also focused on privacy.

“They want this intimate, private environment that their teams can focus on soccer,” Sporting KC Vice President Josh Blackford, said.

That seemed to be the issue with the Overland Park Sheraton. Based on the statement provided by the city, the property was too big for what teams need.

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