(June 5, 2026) – In the coming weeks, Kansas City will welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the world, increasing demand on health care systems across the region. Health care systems will play a critical role in keeping patients, visitors and communities safe during this historic event.
To support readiness efforts, new resources are now available to health care professionals, emergency preparedness leaders, hospital teams and the public. The Kansas Hospital Association has created a BOX folder to share these resources with members.
- One resource is a new Global Soccer Preparedness presentation for members to use in educating their teams about the health care systems and cultures of teams planning to be in the Kansas City area. This country-specific overview of health care culture helps hospitals understand cultural expectations and care norms for patients arriving from abroad.
- A second resource to help hospitals and providers identify human trafficking victims in a medical setting also is available. This resource identifies red flags, outlines what to expect, how to respond and provides recommendations and resources. This tool is an excellent resource beyond World Cup activities and was recently shared with the regional Health and Medical Working Group.
- The Health Alliance of Mid America, a joint venture between KHA and the Missouri Hospital Association, has compiled Kansas City region-specific resources, covering emergency response, patient surge planning, public health coordination, workforce preparedness and care for diverse patient populations.
- KC2026 has partnered with The University of Kansas Health System to serve as the Official Medical Services Provider for the Kansas City World Cup 2026 Host City. This partnership builds on ongoing planning and strengthens regional coordination across key areas. The Health Care Tools and Resources website offers local health systems and community partners with ready-to-use health and safety resources to keep fans safe and informed.
KHA and its partners will continue to inform hospitals about available resources, health care impacts and other emerging issues throughout the event.
--Larry Van Der Wege