The United States has hosted some of the world’s largest international sporting events, including four Summer and four Winter Olympics — with a fifth Summer Games set for 2028. Now, another global competition is headed to North America: the 2026 FIFA Men’s World Cup.
Kansas City is among the host cities for the expanded tournament, and the Missouri Department of Conservation is teaming up with local companies to make sure visitors get a true look at the state’s natural beauty. The groups are working together to restore and beautify the grounds around the Truman Sports Complex through an initiative called “Kansas City’s Native Pitch.”
Tim Collins, who is organizing the project, said volunteers and partners are planting native grasses and wildflowers to create a landscape that reflects Missouri’s ecology for the thousands of fans expected to travel to the region.
Plants being added to the site include little bluestem, prairie dropseed, purple coneflower, lanceleaf coreopsis, purple poppy mallow and black-eyed Susans.
Kansas City will host four group-stage matches beginning June 16, a round-of-32 match on July 3, and a quarterfinal on July 11 as part of the 2026 World Cup schedule.
