Kansas House Moves to Ratify Governor's FIFA World Cup Emergency Declaration

TOPEKA — The Kansas House on Thursday introduced a concurrent resolution to ratify Gov. Laura Kelly's declaration of a state of disaster emergency tied to the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a sign that preparations for the global sporting event are now a formal matter of state policy.

HCR 5031, introduced by Rep. Croft, would affirm the emergency declaration Kelly issued Feb. 9 covering Douglas, Johnson and Wyandotte counties. The declaration would remain in effect through July 30, 2026, spanning the duration of World Cup events expected to draw hundreds of thousands of visitors to the Kansas City metropolitan area. Kansas City, Missouri, is one of the host cities for the tournament, and the Kansas counties covered by the declaration encompass the state's share of the metro region.

Under Kansas law, a governor's disaster emergency declaration expires after 15 days unless ratified by the Legislature, giving the resolution a built-in deadline. The ratification process is typically bipartisan when tied to large-scale events or natural disasters, though some fiscal conservatives have historically raised questions about the scope of emergency powers. The resolution's swift introduction suggests legislative leaders in both parties view World Cup preparedness — including security, transportation and infrastructure coordination — as a priority that transcends partisan lines.