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Kansas City Launches World Cup Volunteer Tryouts as KCK Police Seek Counter-Drone Grant

Kansas qualifies for prioritized DHS funding because it will host 2026 matches.

Overview

  • First applicants completed tryouts Tuesday at KC2026’s new 14,000-square-foot Volunteer Center inside Union Station, which opened Monday.
  • Organizers are narrowing more than 16,000 applicants to roughly 6,000, with selections expected in January and notifications by email.
  • A 250-member “starting lineup” is assisting with one-on-one interviews to place volunteers across about 50 roles.
  • Volunteers will support operations at the stadium, the airport, Union Station and the FIFA Fan Festival, including translation and transit assistance.
  • Wyandotte County’s Public Works and Safety Committee authorized KCKPD to apply for the FY2026 DHS/FEMA CUAS grant, with a request expected up to $5 million (preliminary estimate $3.7 million), no local match, and final board action possible Thursday; Chief Karl Oakman says the department currently lacks drone‑mitigation capability.