November 14, 2025
The University of Kansas Health System Named Official Medical Services Provider for the Kansas City World Cup 2026 Host City
FIFA World Cup 26™ Kansas City Announces Region’s Premier Academic Medical Center Will Help Support Medical Care and Planning
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — KC2026 is proud to announce The University of Kansas Health System as an Official Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 26™ Kansas City. In this role, the health system will serve as the Official Medical Services Provider for the Kansas City World Cup 2026 Host City, providing first aid to spectators at Kansas City Stadium during the tournament and helping direct medical care planning for visitors and fans in coordination with FIFA and KC2026.
“As the Kansas City region prepares to welcome the world for the FIFA World Cup 2026, we recognize the extraordinary responsibility to support the health and safety of our communities and visitors alike,” said Bob Page, president and CEO of The University of Kansas Health System. “The University of Kansas Health System is proud to call the Kansas City region home. Together with KC2026, we look forward to sharing Kansas City and everything unique about our community with the world.”
The University of Kansas Health System will deliver unparalleled expertise and resources to the FIFA World Cup 26™ Kansas City with its specialized care, breadth and depth of resources, and experience providing fan care at Kansas City Stadium.
“The FIFA World Cup is an exceptional opportunity for our region,” said Tammy Peterman, president of the Kansas City Division for The University of Kansas Health System. “We are proud and excited to share the unique expertise our physicians and care teams can provide, in partnership with colleagues across the community, to ensure the best possible Kansas City experience.”
The University of Kansas Health System’s Dr. Bryan Beaver, dual-boarded in Emergency Medicine and EMS/Disaster Medicine, will join Dr. Erica Carney as co-lead of the KC2026 Health and Medical Working Group.
“With this partnership, we are setting a new standard for safety and care during mega events in the Kansas City region,” said Pam Kramer, chief executive officer of KC2026. “The expertise of The University of Kansas Health System team will advance health and well-being readiness for our residents and visitors next summer.”
The health system will help support public health planning for the tournament, focusing on areas such as event-related medical surge, human-caused and natural disasters, and heat illness mitigation.
About KC2026
A nonprofit organization overseeing strategy and delivering Host City duties for the FIFA World Cup 26™, KC2026 will plan, construct and implement all aspects of Kansas City’s largest sports and fan engagement event in the region’s history.
KC2026 planning efforts are supported by its Official Kansas City World Cup 2026 Host City Supporters: Black & Veatch, Purina PetCare, Populous and The University of Kansas Health System. These global and regional companies are leaders in their respective industries and represent key sectors of KC’s economy. Host City Supporters are civic and brand partners who are helping bring the FIFA World Cup 26™ to life in Kansas City. Learn more at KansasCityFWC26.com.
About The University of Kansas Health System
The University of Kansas Health System is the region's premier academic health system, providing a full range of care. The health system is affiliated with the University of Kansas Schools of Medicine, Nursing and Health Professions and their leading-edge research projects. In the Kansas City metro area, the health system offers more than 150 hospital and clinic locations, including a hospital in Kansas City, Kansas; a hospital at Indian Creek Campus in Overland Park; hospitals in Olathe, Miami County and Liberty; and two mental and behavioral health hospitals in the Kansas City area. The health system in Kansas City has received Magnet nursing designation four times in a row for the highest level of care and has ranked every year since 2007 on U.S. News & World Report's Best Hospitals lists (best in Kansas and Kansas City). It provides the region's most experienced, nationally verified burn center and Level I Trauma Center, as well as a leading transplant program in liver, pancreas, kidney, heart, and blood and marrow. The cancer program is part of The University of Kansas Cancer Center, one of 57 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers. In addition to Kansas City metro locations, the health system has locations in Great Bend, Topeka and elsewhere.
About Greater Kansas City
Home to 2.5 million people, Kansas City is a vibrant metro in the heart of the U.S., known as the “KC Heartland.” An all-new single terminal at Kansas City International Airport welcomes guests by air, while 85% of the U.S. is less than a two-day drive away. The region’s red-hot sports culture is embraced every season, headlined by the Kansas City Chiefs, Kansas City Royals, Major League Soccer’s Sporting Kansas City and the National Women’s Soccer League’s Kansas City Current.
About The FIFA World Cup 26™
The FIFA World Cup 26™ will be the biggest sporting event ever, with three Host Countries, 16 Host Cities, 48 teams and 104 matches uniting an entire continent to showcase a momentous new tournament format. With more countries, cities, teams and games, the FIFA World Cup 26™ will be the most inclusive tournament ever, engaging millions of fans across 16 unique stadiums and billions worldwide. The tournament will take place in June and July 2026. For the latest FIFA World Cup 26™ information, please visit the FIFA World Cup 26™ website. For media representatives wishing to stay up to date on all things 2026, please register via the FIFA Media Hub.
CONTACT
- Haley Harrison-Lee or Savannah O’Dell
Media, Kansas City FWC 26 - Jill Chadwick
Media Relations, The University of Kansas Health System