More than 63,000 people showed up to Kansas City’s FIFA Fan Fest in just its first five days. For a free event centered on watching soccer on big screens, that’s a remarkable number, one that underscores how deeply the 2026 World Cup is embedding itself into American culture.
The festival, running from June 11 to July 11 at the National WWI Museum and Memorial, has drawn visitors from 178 countries. Roughly half of attendees came from outside the local area or the US entirely.
Inside the Fan Fest machine
Live match screenings anchor the experience, surrounded by live music, cultural programming, and the general electricity that comes from putting tens of thousands of international soccer fans in the same place. Tech N9ne performed on June 12. The Chainsmokers are booked for June 21.
Entry is free, though visitors need to secure a free digital General Admission pass, and daily attendance is capped at 25,000.
