Is KC ‘World Cup Ready?’ At town hall, residents ask about gun violence, ICE and more

Is Kansas City “World Cup Ready?” City officials think so.

Kansas City PBS held a panel discussion titled “World Cup Ready?” at the Kansas City Public Library’s Plaza Branch Tuesday, giving Kansas City residents the opportunity to ask Kansas City Police Department Police Chief Stacey Graves, KC2026 Chief Executive Officer Pam Kramer and Kansas City Manager Mario Vasquez questions regarding the event.

Hosted by PBS’ Nick Haines, the “live town hall” was designed to explore “what residents can expect in the weeks ahead” with the FIFA World Cup’s opening game less than a month away, according to the KCPL website.

Teams based in Kansas City are set to arrive as early as June 9. The first match in Kansas City is slated for June 16.

Here’s what each panelist had to say about the city’s preparedness for the biggest sporting event in the world.

Kansas City police chief

Haines introduced Graves as the individual “responsible for making sure the games are safe, and we don’t have hordes of soccer hooligans on our hands.”

Kansas City’s police chief told the audience that along with regional partners, the police department is going “farther out,” bringing officers in from 11 states.

They’ll stay at nearby universities, “so they’re not taking up hotel space,” Graves said.

Haines said Graves told him Kansas City police officers spent time in Europe to prepare for the World Cup, where she said officers learned “best practices,” and fan behavior.

When asked how the department will handle underage drinking as fans from across the world spill into the region, Graves emphasized education and prevention.

“We want to really work on the prevention side, instead of waiting until afterwards and we have to make an arrest, or making someone get sicker, or a crowd potentially gets out of whack because of alcohol,” Graves said.

The police chief also pointed out potential “cultural awareness” and “desescalation” training for officers.

A community member asked Graves about a potential increase in gun violence during the World Cup.

Graves said, “We have planned for not only an increase in alcohol usage, making sure that we’re prepared for any type of language barrier, we just want people to come to Kansas City, feel welcomed, and have a safe experience.”

When the question was repeated, Graves did not respond.

Kramer responded, mentioning the FIFA Fan Festival, which she said would have a secure perimeter and clear bag policy.

Pam Kramer, KC2026

Kramer has been “the most visible local face of the games,” Haines said.

The chief executive officer of KC2026 told the crowd Kansas City is the smallest of the 16 United States cities hosting the sporting event.

“I think that maybe because we recognize we are smaller, we recognize that the opportunity is bigger,” Kramer said.

Kramer estimated “tens of thousands of people” will pass through the city for the event. She highlighted the tourism impact the event will have in the area.

One community member asked Kramer about a proposed human rights plan, which they said was “supposed to be released yesterday,” citing fear surrounding potential ICE activity during the event.

Kramer said the organization has the plan, but is “waiting to share it with our board of directors.”

“What we’re focused on is finding out what we can from the government,” Kramer said. “What we are being told is DHS presence will focus, and had focused on mega-events, on anti-human trafficking, on anti-counterfeiting, but for us to be as welcoming as we can. That’s the message we’re trying to convey.”

Graves added that the police department has not been asked to assist ICE during the World Cup.

When asked about employment opportunities, Kramer said contractually, at least 80% of employees must be local.

City manager

Throughout the World Cup, Vasquez will be in charge of ensuring “what could go wrong, doesn’t go wrong,” Haines said.

Vasquez said Kansas City was prepared to host two teams during the World Cup, and city officials offered three options for base camps. It ended up with four.

“We have great facilities in Kansas City, and it is a central location to the rest of the country and the rest of the continent,” Vasquez said. “And because teams are playing both here and away, it’s an easy place to get around.”

Haines, citing road and school closures during the 2023 NFL draft in Kansas City, asked Vasquez if something similar would happen during the World Cup.

“It might be a little bit busy, plan ahead, but live your life,” Vasquez said. “We’re not shutting down the city for this. This is what big cities do.”

In reference to potential construction for a proposed temporary jail for the World Cup, Vasquez said he thought the city “worked out some contingency plans for jail construction.”

Vasquez, who said he doesn’t “like to call it a temporary jail,” said officials are working on training for the facility.