KC2026 Unveils Playbook to Prepare Businesses for the World Cup

Posted December 22, 2025

KC2026 has released a playbook that prepares local businesses and communities for the FIFA World Cup 2026™ in Kansas City.

KC2026, the nonprofit organization responsible for coordinating the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Kansas City, has announced the debut of its public resource playbooks and the launch of a new application portal for vendors attending the FIFA Fan Festival.

The playbook is designed to help small businesses, entrepreneurs and communities prepare for the sports event, as the city is expected to attract more than 650,000 visitors and generate $653 million in regional economic impact.

The announced resources include:

KC Game Plan Playbook: A comprehensive playbook to aid local small businesses and entrepreneurs. The KC Game Plan Playbook empowers business owners with insights, tools and connections to make informed decisions and take smart action. KC2026 will add visitor insights, hospitality training resources and predictive visitor heatmaps to the playbook starting in January 2026.

Community Activation Playbook: Designed for everyone from city officials and civic organizations to small businesses, cultural groups, schools and volunteers. The Community Activation Playbook is a guide for creating a safe, welcoming and distinctly Kansas City experience while celebrating with local fans and visitors from around the world. The digital playbook includes resources to understand Kansas City’s Host City role and key events, FIFA™ guidelines and requirements, and ideas for celebrations, decor and activations.

FIFA Fan Festival™ Vendor Applications: The online application window is now open for food and beverage vendors who wish to operate at the FIFA Fan Festival™ at the National WWI Museum and Memorial during the FIFA World Cup 2026™ Kansas City. This offers a direct opportunity for local food and beverage entrepreneurs to serve tens of thousands of attendees. Vendors in the Kansas City region are eligible to apply. Preference will be given to vendors equipped for success in an outdoor festival environment with up to 65,000 in daily attendance. KC2026 will review applications and FIFA will approve menu items. Applications will remain open until February 11, 2026.

“Our community is deeply rooted in sports, driven by innovation and rising with unstoppable momentum,” director of regional impact for KC2026, Tracy Whelpley, said in the release. “With these first-of-their-kind resources, we are making sure local businesses and communities are equipped to welcome thousands of visitors and create positive impacts that extend well beyond the matches and into the future.”

The playbooks can be viewed here.