Kansas City, a city that fancies an ability to punch above its weight as a defining characteristic, is the smallest U.S. metropolitan area awarded World Cup matches for 2026. Kansas City will play host to a quarterfinal game, too.

Five people inside the organization, though, told The Star that while Holland was named the executive director of KC2026, the title carried more weight than her voice did — and their speculation is that’s what prompted her resignation last week.

“They gave her the job, but you could tell pretty early on they didn’t really want her in charge,” one member of the board of directors said. “Maybe they didn’t think she was the right fit for the job, I don’t know, but it was never really her doing the job as it was initially described.”

Holland reported to a five-member executive committee that oversees all elements of KC2026, with Karen Daniel, a retired chief financial officer of Black & Veatch, as its president. That committee also includes Jake Reid, Sporting KC team president and CEO; Neal Sharma, former CEO at DEG; Kathy Nelson, president and CEO at the Kansas City Sports Commission and Visit KC; and Esther George, the former president and CEO at Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.

Shortly after starting her role, Holland was told the executive committee would meet without her, multiple people said.

Then, earlier this year, she was given a title change that included a salary reduction, a move that surprised some members on the board, who said they requested more information about the decision.

Within that time, KC2026 tabbed Pam Kramer as its chief operating officer. Kramer is widely expected to receive Holland’s former job.

Several have expressed confidence in Kramer. A portion — emphasis on portion, not all — did so while also stressing the need to pick up the pace just two years shy of the global tournament and its wave of fans and teams landing in Kansas City.

It’s not as pertinent to get into the back-and-forth of the disagreement on the pace of work toward the World Cup as it is to point out its existence — because several who spoke to The Star adamantly disagree they are falling behind in any manner. While some say KC2026 should have a more concrete transportation plan by now, others describe the tasks as on-schedule and full steam ahead.

You get the idea.

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