Kansas City spent $25.8 million building a jail for the World Cup and it won't even be ready in time
TIMESOFINDIA.COM / Jun 10, 2026, 17:10 (IST)
Kansas City's $25.8 million temporary jail, repeatedly pitched to the public as essential infrastructure for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, will not be ready before the tournament begins. Delayed by manufacturer supply issues and staffing shortfalls, the 100-bed facility missed its June 1 opening target. City officials, are now reframing it as a long-overdue fix to a city that has lacked a municipal jail since 2009. Critics say the World Cup was used to manufacture public support for the project, and the delay has left residents questioning how their money and political capital were spent.