The Lawrence area’s unified command to prep for the World Cup is now dubbed “Lawrence 2026,” and the group has launched a website to share information about plans with residents and visitors.
“The website lawrence2026.com is designed to be a hub for information about local events, transportation options, business resources and more as the community prepares for the worldwide men’s soccer tournament taking place in Kansas City, Missouri, in summer 2026,” according to a news release Tuesday morning.
Thousands of international soccer fans and millions of dollars are expected to descend upon Kansas City next year as the city hosts six World Cup matches.
Planners expect the effects to ripple well beyond the KC metro area, particularly if an international team selects Lawrence as a site for a base camp. They should know by the end of January if a team selects Lawrence, according to the new website.
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Lawrence organizations last year created the unified command, similar to what was formed for COVID-19 response, in preparation. Partners include the City of Lawrence, Douglas County, the University of Kansas, Explore Lawrence and the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce.
The new website “provides background on the World Cup’s role in the local community, as well as important dates, news and notices that will help those living in the community navigate the changes and challenges of thousands of visitors coming to the area,” according to the release. “Lawrence2026.com is also a centralized resource for visitors looking for information about activities, transit, safety, dining, entertainment and more in Lawrence and Douglas County.”
Erinn Barcomb-Peterson of the unified command’s Joint Information Center said in the release that the website “is designed to be a dynamic site that can reflect updates and priorities between now and summer 2026.”
See more coverage of World Cup prep at this link.
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Nathan Kramer/Lawrence Times
Nathan Kramer / Lawrence Times
