KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - Before thousands of fans fill the streets of Kansas City for the World Cup in 2026, officials are looking to fill empty storefronts.

Kansas City has been preparing for the rise in tourism since the FIFA announcement in 2022 .

On Tuesday, the plans reached a new height.

The City Council’s Finance, Governance and Public Safety Committee passed a resolution to put $1.4 million toward the Small Business Storefront Vacancy Revitalization program.

Ryana Parks Shaw, who represents the 5th District and serves as mayor pro tem, co-sponsored the legislation. She says it is an opportunity to revitalize storefronts while helping entrepreneurs.

“Help small businesses to be able to take advantage of some of the vacant storefronts that we have in Kansas City,” she went on

See Full Page