photo by: Chance Parker

Kansas hosts Ohio State during the collegiate soccer season opener at Rock Chalk Park on Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022.

Soccer fans all over the world held their breath, screamed in delight and learned about what kinds of travel plans they would be looking at come summer, as multiple teams qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup this week.

From shocking goals in Glasgow that secured Scotland’s first ticket to the tournament since 1990 to the Caribbean countries of Haiti and Curacao celebrating their second and first World Cup berths, respectively, we now know 42 of the 48 teams that will come to North America next summer for the World Cup. But what about the teams that will be coming to the Kansas City area? Or potentially hold a base camp in Lawrence?

A better picture of who will be coming to the region next month, will emerge when FIFA holds its draw on Dec. 5. That will help narrow down which national teams will be playing matches in Kansas City — and provide a possible hint on what teams might look to hold their base camp in Lawrence.

We’ll take a look at where things stand and how Lawrence and the area is preparing 200 days before the World Cup takes over.

Billions of people tune in every four years for the tournament, which has been running since 1930. This year, the World Cup is the biggest it has ever been — not just in the number of teams but in the span of the matches.

The field of teams for the tournament expanded to 48 teams this year; when it was held in Qatar in 2022, the field was just 32 teams. Additionally, matches for this World Cup will be played across three countries — the United States, Mexico and Canada — which is the most number of host nations in the history of the tournament.

At this point, 42 teams have qualified for the tournament. The remaining six teams will be decided based on the results of a European playoff, from which four teams will qualify, and an Intercontinental playoff, from which two teams will book their World Cup experience. Those two playoffs will take place in March, and after that the full field will be set.

Kansas City will host six matches during the tournament, which will run from June 11 to July 19 next year. It will host four group stage games and two knock-out stage games, including a quarterfinal match.

For those soccer novices, the World Cup format first splits the 48 teams into 12 groups of four teams. The teams in each group will play each team once for a total of three group stage matches. Winning a match earns three points, drawing a match earns one point for each team and losing a match provides no points.

At the end of the group stage, the two teams with the most points will advance to the knockout stages. While the top two teams will guarantee their spot, the eight highest ranking third place teams will also advance to the knockout stage. Those tiebreakers will be decided based on a variety of factors, including goal difference — total goals the team scored minus the goals allowed — total goals scored and other factors if nothing separates the teams.

Once the teams are in the knockout stage, it’s a classic bracket tournament much like the NCAA Tournament. Although draws can happen in the group stage, these matches need a winner to advance, which means games that stay tied after 90 minutes have extra time and the potential for penalty kicks to decide the winner.

The World Cup final takes place on Sunday, July 19, at Metlife Stadium in Rutherford, N.J.

Knowing the format is helpful to understanding the World Cup, but it also can play a role in projecting what teams might choose to hold their base camp in the greater Kansas City area.

Earlier in the month on a press call, Pam Kramer, the CEO for KC2026, a nonprofit that will oversee strategy and perform the host city duties for the World Cup, said that teams will submit a preferred Top 5 list for base camp locations to FIFA in the days following the draw on Dec. 5. Kramer said that teams would be notified where their base camp will be by Jan. 9, and venues will know by the end of January. All base camp locations will be announced by the end of March.

Although Kansas City will host four matches during the group stage, not all those games will be for the same group. The city will host a match for Group E and Group F and two matches for Group J, including the final game of the stage that will help decide who will advance to the knockout stages.

Because three teams in Group J are guaranteed to play in Kansas City, Kramer said that would be the group to watch for teams that might select a local base camp. The greater Kansas City area has three possible sites as base camps — the Sporting KC Training Center in Kansas City, Kansas, the KC Current Training Facility in Riverside, Missouri, or the University of Kansas’s Rock Chalk Park in Lawrence.

As the Journal-World reported, Lawrence was included in FIFA’s official list as a potential base camp in June 2024. Teams would train at that facility, which FIFA’s official website said was “fully equipped to support elite football preparation,” and they would stay at the Oread Hotel, 1200 Oread Ave.

With the many base camp options and the six matches that Kansas City will hold, officials have said they believe a soccer powerhouse could opt to set up shop in the region. Because Kansas City hosts a quarterfinal match — which would include the final eight teams — an elite team like Germany or Argentina who believes they will make a deep run could make the region a popular request.

The geography of the area also is believed to be a factor. Kramer said officials with national teams have already scoped out facilities in the area, and she noted that all of the sites would be within a three-hour flight from any World Cup venue. She also noted if a team chose Lawrence, they could choose to fly out of Topeka instead of Kansas City International Airport, which would potentially mean less time in transit.

While there are no guarantees that Lawrence will be a base camp, local leaders are preparing for that possibility and looking to put the city’s best foot forward next summer for an influx of visitors to the region.

Kim Anspach, the executive director of Explore Lawrence, previously said being selected as a base camp could bring an additional 15,000 expected visitors according to FIFA, but estimates say over 600,000 people will visit the region because of the World Cup matches at Arrowhead.

Cori Wallace, a spokesperson for the City of Lawrence, said the city and many other stakeholders have been forming “a litany of plans” in preparation. Douglas County Emergency Management and stakeholders have created a Unified Command structure to coordinate and share information among different governments and agencies that will be involved, as the Journal-World reported. Those will be especially important if Lawrence is chosen as a base camp, and that group has been working to come up with plans for safety and security based on FIFA recommendations.

Along with those logistical plans, Lawrence leaders have looked to find ways to capitalize on the extra eyeballs on the city — and the extra visitors. The City Commission approved an increase to the city’s transient guest tax from 6% to 8% in August, as the Journal-World reported. Anspach said at the time the World Cup is a “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” for the city in the short term that can set up the city’s tourism sector for the long term.

Anspach said teams are working to organize “community soccer parties” for next summer, with plans to announce more details at the start of next year. Anspach also said she is thrilled the Lawrence Arts Commission is encouraging international and soccer related public art pieces ahead of the 2026 World Cup, giving Lawrence’s artists a chance to “represent the spirit of the tournament” with the installation.

Anspach said organizers are thinking of creating events for soccer novices as well. The Lawrence Public Library has considered hosting some events ahead of kickoff that can prime community members for understanding soccer and welcoming visitors so Lawrencians can be “not only great hosts, but great fans as well,” Anspach said.

While many visitors — and locals — will likely be infected with World Cup fever, there will be something for everyone visiting Lawrence during the summer. Anspach said June and July is a “terrific time to experience Lawrence’s arts and culture scene” because it coincides with festivals and parades like Lawrence Pride, the Free State Festival and Buskerfest. Anspach also said the event coincides with the country’s 250th anniversary celebration, and local history and heritage organizations are working to create tours that tell the story of the region.

Although there is still a lot of work to be done by the city and many stakeholders ahead of kickoff on June 11, the whole region is bound to get swept up in World Cup fever, and Lawrence’s leaders are hoping to take advantage of the international spotlight.

“There is so much more to come, but we’re off to a great start in making sure Lawrence is meeting its moment on the international stage,” Anspach said.