​The Countdown Begins: With One Year to Go Until the FIFA World Cup 26™, KC2026 Unveils Official Countdown Clock, Announces Official Host City Supporters of the Kansas City World Cup 2026

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (June 11, 2025) — Marking One Year to Go until the FIFA World Cup 26™ inaugural match, Host City organizing committee KC2026 held a news conference at Union Station. At the event, they unveiled a countdown clock and announced their first Official Kansas City World Cup 2026 Host City Supporters: Populous and Nestlé Purina PetCare.  
 
"We are incredibly proud to have the support of both Populous, a global design firm specializing in sports and entertainment, headquartered in Kansas City, and Purina, a leading pet care and nutrition company deeply rooted in our Animal Health Corridor,” said Pam Kramer, CEO of KC2026. “Their commitment as Host City Supporters signifies our talent, strength and diversity as a region that has already arrived on the world stage. Kansas City is prepared to showcase its vibrant atmosphere, strong sports culture and economic opportunities to 650,000 visitors and five billion viewers worldwide.” 
 
The first match of the FIFA World Cup 26™ will happen in Mexico City on June 11, 2026, with the first match in Kansas City kicking off on June 16, 2026. Kansas City will host six matches:  
 
• Group Stage   Tuesday, June 16, 2026 
• Group Stage   Saturday, June 20, 2026 
• Group Stage   Thursday, June 25, 2026 
• Group Stage   Saturday, June 27, 2026 
• Round of 32    Friday, July 3, 2026 
• Quarter-Final   Saturday, July 11, 2026 
 

The Countdown to 2026   
KC2026, together with special guests and state and local elected leaders, unveiled two versions of countdown clocks that will be present throughout Kansas and Missouri leading up to the FIFA World Cup 26™.  
 
A set of custom Kansas City heart-shaped countdown clocks was fabricated by a Kansas design/build company over seven weeks, made of aluminum and steel and standing at just under 10 feet tall. One clock will be on display in Kansas City at Union Station, where it was unveiled Wednesday. The other will be unveiled in Johnson County, Kansas, later in June.  
 
In addition to Kansas City’s countdown clocks, FIFA has supplied two clocks to commemorate next year’s competition. FIFA countdown clocks will be installed in central and iconic locations across all 2026 Host Cities, counting down to June 11, when the greatest soccer tournament kicks off in North America. Kansas City’s FIFA countdown clocks will be on display throughout the region at locations that will be announced at a later date.  
  
Kramer invites social media users to participate by sharing their photos featuring the clock. They can use the hashtag #KCCountdown and tag and follow @FWC26KansasCity to follow the clocks' progress throughout the coming year. 
 
One Year to Kickoff in Kansas City 
The Countdown to 2026 festivities will continue throughout the month: on June 22 at the Aspiria campus in Overland Park, KC2026 will host the Kansas City Kickoff community event, a day of free family fun and an opportunity to learn about the FIFA World Cup 26™ Kansas City.  
 
At the event, the community is invited to learn about KC2026, Host City Supporters, resources for small businesses and volunteer opportunities. Prospective volunteers can now register their interest ahead of the August application period. For more updates in the countdown to the FIFA World Cup 26™, visit the KC2026 website and social channels and sign up for the KC2026 e-newsletter. 
 
FIFA World Cup 26™ 
The FIFA World Cup 26™ will mark the 23rd edition of the tournament and is set to break multiple records. Building on the global success of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™, which engaged five billion fans across all media platforms and drew more than 3.4 million spectators, the 2026 edition is expected to welcome 6.5 million fans – truly bringing the world to North America like never before. This will be the largest and most inclusive FIFA World Cup™ in history, with 48 teams competing for the first time. It also marks the first edition of the tournament to be hosted across three countries and 16 vibrant Host Cities, uniting an entire continent through football. 
 
Group stage matchups will be determined by the Final Draw for the FIFA World Cup 26™, which will take place later this year. Tickets for the FIFA World Cup 26™ will go on sale to the general public in the coming months. Select ticket-inclusive hospitality packages are already available. Fans can sign up to receive more information at FIFA.com/tickets, the official and preferred source of tickets for the tournament. Additional hospitality packages, including for matches in Canada and Mexico, are set to go on sale in July.