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Kansas City Missouri Police Department Prepares for FIFA World Cup 2026

Strategic Insights

— 3 min read

The Kansas City Missouri Police Department has extensive experience in hosting and responding to large-scale events, having hosted the 2012 MLB All-Star Game, 2015 World Series Championship parade/rally, the 2023 NFL Draft, the 2020, 2023, and 2024 Super Bowl World Championship parades and rallies. As the department prepares for the FIFA World Cup 2026, which will arrive in 11 American cities in approximately 10 to 11 months, they have dedicated full-time staff members to planning for all aspects of the event. Regional coordination has been key in planning, with six initial planning committees growing to over 20 distinct areas of planning. The department has implemented lessons learned from previous incidents, including a layered security screening approach, expanded perimeters around venues, and additional transportation safety and security.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Kansas City Missouri Police Department has a full strength of over 1,400 sworn law enforcement officers and covers over 300 square miles in Kansas City, touching four counties.
  • The department has hosted numerous large-scale events, including the 2012 MLB All-Star Game, 2015 World Series Championship parade/rally, the 2023 NFL Draft, the 2020, 2023, and 2024 Super Bowl World Championship parades and rallies.
  • The department has dedicated full-time staff members to planning for the FIFA World Cup 2026 and has implemented lessons learned from previous incidents, including a layered security screening approach, expanded perimeters around venues, and additional transportation safety and security.
  • The department has conducted after-activation reviews of mass gathering celebrations, leading to improved security plans at subsequent events.
  • The department has implemented DMAT (Disaster Medical Assistance Teams) to ensure a proper response to a potential mass casualty event.
  • The 2024 Super Bowl parade and rally saw the implementation of enhanced vehicle mitigation, improved public communication, comprehensive traffic plans, and integrated operations.
  • The department has conducted full-scale exercises and tabletop exercises to test and retest their plans and readiness.
  • The department has completed risk assessments as part of the planning process, allowing for the pre-planning of both known and assumed factors leading to the correct allocation of resources.
  • The department has prioritized continuous training aligned with the latest standards, evident after shots rang out at the rally in 2024, with law enforcement officers running towards the threat.
  • The department has not received any federal funds toward the planning and preparation for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
  • Funding for the FIFA World Cup 2026 is allocated through the $625 million One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) for planning and security costs relating to the host cities.
  • The department is concerned about the timing, program restrictions, and application process for this grant, which may impact delivery times for equipment and resources.
  • Local law enforcement agencies are currently constrained by federal regulations that prohibit or severely limit the ability to detect, disrupt, or disable unauthorized drones in real time.
  • The department respectfully requests Congress to prioritize the following:

1. Authorize the deployment of Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) detection and counter-UAS technology at local and regional levels.

2. Current FAA BVLOS (Beyond Visual Line of Sight) waivers without visual observers are limited to 200 feet Above Ground Level (AGL), while standard UAV operations allow up to 400 feet AGL.

3. Ensure Federal UAS teams are embedded at each FIFA World Cup 2026 host site to provide airspace security.

Statistics:

  • The Kansas City Missouri Police Department serves a city with over half a million residents.
  • The department has a full-time planning staff for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
  • The department has conducted over 20 distinct areas of planning for the FIFA World Cup 2026.
  • The department has completed risk assessments as part of the planning process.
  • The department has a total of 1,400 sworn law enforcement officers.
  • The department has hosted the 2012 MLB All-Star Game, 2015 World Series Championship parade/rally, the 2023 NFL Draft, the 2020, 2023, and 2024 Super Bowl World Championship parades and rallies.
  • The department has implemented DMAT (Disaster Medical Assistance Teams) to ensure a proper response to a potential mass casualty event.

Sources:

  • Kansas City Missouri Police Department's written testimony by Kansas Chief of Police Stacey Graves, provided at the July 22, 2025, hearing entitled "Lessons Learned: An Examination of Major Security Incidents at Mass Gathering Events."
  • The House Homeland Security Committee Task Force on Enhancing Security for Special Events' hearing on July 22, 2025.
  • The Kansas City Missouri Police Department's budget request for personnel costs and equipment to the KC 2026, FIFA World Cup, Planning Committee.
  • The One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) for planning and security costs relating to the 2026 FIFA World Cup host cities.
  • The State Homeland Security Grant Program.
  • The FAA's Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) waivers.

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