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Kansas City ramps up bid to host games at Arrowhead during 2026 World Cup

The quest to bring a World Cup to Kansas City secured the alignment of prominent local sports and government figures.

Nearly a dozen of them have formed an executive committee as the bid for the 2026 World Cup reaches its final stage.

Kansas City is one of 17 finalists cities in the United States to host 2026 World Cup matches. If KC is awarded games, they would played at Arrowhead Stadium. Ten cities will be picked for selection, an announcement expected to arrive in late 2020. Each site will likely host between 5-7 matches.

The 11-person executive bid committee is Chiefs chairman Clark Hunt; Sporting KC principal owner Cliff Illig; Doug Bach, Unified Government and Kansas City, Kanas county administrator; Lynn Berling-Manuel, United Soccer Coaches CEO; Jason Fulvi, VisitKC president and CEO; Shane Hackett, Heartland Soccer Association executive director; Matt Kenny, Chiefs vice president of stadium services and events; Donna Maize, Kansas City, Missouri assistant city manager; Kathy Nelson, Kansas City Sports Commission and Foundation president and CEO; Joe Reardon, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce president and CEO; and Jake Reid, Sporting KC president and CEO.