How MARC helped the region prepare for the FIFA World Cup 2026

Welcoming hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world required an unprecedented level of regional collaboration, and the Mid-America Regional Council served as one of many key organizations helping communities prepare for the moment.

As the region's council of local governments, MARC brought together city and county leaders, transportation agencies, emergency managers, communicators and other partners to help ensure that preparations were coordinated across jurisdictional boundaries. While KC2026 led host city planning, MARC provided a platform for communities throughout the metropolitan area to share information, coordinate activities and work toward common goals. As part of this effort, MARC created a regional coordination portal, facilitated local government briefings and established an information-sharing network that allowed communities to plan together.

Prior to the World Cup, MARC convened planning forums and exercises. During the event, MARC played a role in coordination of the Regional Coordination Center (RCC). The RCC brought together local, state, federal, and organizing committee representatives to facilitate cross-jurisdictional decision-making. RCC personnel, partner agencies and support organizations worked together to establish priorities; outline coordination structures; identify key objectives, responsibilities and support functions; maintain situational awareness and coordinate regional resources as needed. These efforts helped strengthen communication and collaboration among local, state and federal partners responsible for keeping residents and visitors safe throughout the tournament.

Transportation planning was another area of focus. Moving fans, visitors and residents efficiently around the region required close coordination among numerous agencies and organizations. MARC supported transportation planning efforts, promoted ridesharing and travel-demand strategies and worked alongside partners to help address the mobility needs associated with match days, FIFA Fan Fest activities and the many community events that accompanied the tournament. MARC is conducting an after-action review of the impacts of the event on the regional transportation system to capture lessons learned and to prepare for future large scale events.

MARC also played an important role in public information and community engagement. Through a regional events calendar and coordination platform, communities across the metropolitan area shared information about local celebrations, cultural activities and visitor experiences connected to the tournament. The information helped increase visibility for events while allowing organizers and local governments to better coordinate transportation, safety and other shared resources.

Additionally, MARC facilitated discussions around housing capacity, sustainability, aging services and communications to help communities work together, identify challenges early and create solutions that could serve residents long after the final whistle.