Feature Story: FIFA

One year until the first games in the FIFA World Cup 2026™

Photo courtesy of: Kent Auf Der Heide via @UnionStationKC X account

Wahoo Native Kateri Hartman to Lead Digital Marketing Efforts for FIFA World Cup 2026 in Kansas City, Putting the Midwest on the Global Stage

By: Dawson Anderson

In case you haven’t heard, the world’s biggest sporting event is coming to Kansas City in 2026 – and no, it’s not the Super Bowl. The FIFA World Cup, a global spectacle that unites millions, will bring six matches to the “Soccer Capital of America” in June and July 2026, including two elimination games, just down the interstate from Omaha.

At the heart of the action is Kateri Hartman, a Wahoo native and proud University of Nebraska-Lincoln alum, who’s stepping into the role of Social Media and Content Manager for the Kansas City Sports Commission. The 2016 Bishop Neumann graduate will lead the digital marketing efforts for the games, collaborating with city leaders, local sports teams, and the broader Kansas City community to make the tournament unforgettable.

Nebraska Background

Hartman grew up a die-hard Husker fan and sports enthusiast in Wahoo, Nebraska, a small town just a half-hour drive from the sea of red in Lincoln. As the youngest of three, she grew up following her siblings to countless games and eventually playing throughout her youth. Her parents, lifelong Husker fans and football season ticket holders, were her earliest influences, instilling in her a deep love for sports and a devotion to her Nebraska roots.

“I remember being a child, being on my dad’s shoulders walking into Memorial Stadium,” says Hartman, who believes that the sense of community in Husker nation is also what drew her to work in sports and later, choose to attend the University of Nebraska Lincoln (UNL).

Having been born and raised in Nebraska, she’s felt an amazing sense of comradery with other Nebraskans through cheering for Husker football and volleyball especially. Now, she’s eager to carry that sense of community forward on a global stage for the FIFA World Cup, hoping to showcase the same Midwestern warmth and passion.

Hartman graduated in 2021 with bachelor’s degree in ad public relations, with a concentration in journalism and a minor in English and is currently pursuing her master’s degree in integrated media communications, concentrated in sports media.

Omaha Soccer

Soccer’s presence in Omaha is growing, with successful university and professional programs and a new professional stadium being built downtown for the Union Omaha team. Hartman, who joined the University of Nebraska Omaha (UNO) in 2023 as Assistant Athletic Director of Marketing and Promotions, credits much of her growth in the sport to her hands-on experience with UNO’s teams and conversations with coaches and fans.

“Soccer games were the first games I worked on my own at UNO, and it was a challenge honestly, but I got to know the sport a lot better,” said Hartman. “I was also lucky enough to cover the Sporting KC vs Union Omaha, so that would have been the first professional soccer game in Nebraska”.

There she got to witness the fans’ behavior, from the cheers they did, the clothes they wore, the items they brought, and their overall attitude. She feels blessed to have had the experience she did in the Omaha soccer community, which she believes gave her a leg up in the hiring process.

After applying for the role with FIFA ’26, she said they pursued her quickly, and in a little over a week, she had visited Kansas City and accepted the position. “It was a lot emotionally, within the span of a week-and-a-half, my life completely changed,” said Hartman, but she’s excited to explore the sports scene of a new city that’s right down the road.

Her momentum from working at UNO is what pushed her to continue to pursue a career in sports. From working “Volleyball Day in Nebraska” to NCAA tournaments, she looks forward to continuing accomplishing goals as a team and feeding off the energy that sports gives her.

U.S. Open Cup match between Sporting KC and Union Omaha at Caniglia Field

Photo courtesy of: Kateri Hartman

Shedding Light on the Midwest

As Hartman prepares for this opportunity, her overarching goal is for people to get to experience Kansas City for all that it is, and to engage people online with digital content of the events of the city.

“I want people to talk about Kansas City, because if you look at the other cities, it’s Seattle, Boston, Miami. There are some big names there, and I want people to leave the World Cup being like ‘Wow, Kansas City really blew it out of the water’.”

Her vision extends beyond Kansas City. Hartman aims to put the entire Midwest on the map by shifting perceptions of the region on a national stage.

“The Midwest always gets the short end of the stick, as far as what other people perceive,” said Hartman. “I think, any time when you can showcase the area positively on a national level, national media, it’s just going to help.”

For Hartman, promoting sports in the Midwest is not just about the events themselves, but about creating new opportunities for young professionals. She sees the potential for these high-profile events to attract more talent to the region, offering once-in-a-lifetime experiences without requiring people to leave.

With each step toward the World Cup, Hartman’s excitement grows as she anticipates what’s ahead. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime thing,” she says. The World Cup doesn’t come to the US very often, and to be a part of something bigger than herself is an experience she’ll never take for granted.

As Kansas City prepares to take the global stage, Hartman hopes to give the Midwest the recognition it deserves and create memories that fans across the world will remember long after the final whistle.

One year until the first games in the FIFA World Cup 2026™

Photo courtesy of: Kent Auf Der Heide via @UnionStationKC X account

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