By Matt McMullen
Argentina and Algeria’s national teams are embracing Kansas City’s Midwestern hospitality ahead of their match on Tuesday
A mosaic of colors representing destinations a collective 19,000 miles away has dotted every corner of the Kansas City metropolitan area over the last few weeks, and on the eve of Kansas City Stadium’s first World Cup match – a clash between Argentina and Algeria – both national teams are feeling right at home.
“The city has been great to us, and the training center is absolutely fantastic,” said Argentina Head Coach Lionel Scaloni. “It’s an amazingly spectacular place, it’s a great venue, and we’re grateful to the population of Kansas City for giving us the opportunity.”
In fact, Tuesday’s game marks a clash between a pair of teams who are each calling Kansas City home over the next several weeks.
Argentina, the 2022 FIFA World Cup™ champion, has been training at the Sporting KC Performance Center while Algeria, known as “the Desert Foxes,” is set up at Rock Chalk Park in nearby Lawrence. In the case of both teams – ranked No. 1 and No. 27 in the world, respectively – the Kansas City area has provided its trademark Midwestern hospitality in droves.
“I hope all of the neutrals do cheer on Algeria because it’s been a wonderful feeling [being here],” said Algeria Head Coach Vladimir Petković. “We’ve had a great helping hand – even in our opening training session, they really gave us some positive vibes. Not only the Algerian people, but also locals living in this area. So, we’ll try to give something back.”
It’s a sentiment that’s been years in the making as Lawrence prepared to welcome the world to its doorstep.
“When we [applied] to bring a World Cup team here, we decided we were going to make everyone feel at home – whatever country it was,” said Lawrence Mayor Brad Finkeldei, who spoke to reporters on Monday. “We wanted to make them feel authentically welcome, and it’s been easy, because the Algerians have reciprocated that. They’ve brought their warmth, they’ve brought their energy, and they’ve brought their excitement.”
Indeed, Lawrence has fully adopted the Algerians as its own. Members of the Desert Foxes were invited to shoot around at Allen Fieldhouse as cries of “Rock Chalk Algeria” rang out up and down historic Mass Street. When it came time for Algeria’s community training session, more than 2,000 fans packed in to catch a glimpse of their guests.
“We’ve embraced them, and they’ve embraced us,” Finkeldei said. “In Lawrence, we know about sports, chants and cheering, so we’ve been able to embrace the Algerians in that manner.”
The people of Lawrence have certainly put their best foot forward as part of that mandate, and in a tournament already defined by upsets, Petković is hopeful his team’s newest fans will have plenty to cheer about in the coming weeks.
“We had that opening training session, and we saw so many US citizens wearing our scarves,” Petković said. “They showed so much support for us, and they really wanted to celebrate this moment for our team. I hope we can make it to the knockout stage, and then everyone from Kansas can travel with us to another city.”
As for the reigning world champions, two Aerolíneas Argentinas jetliners packed with hundreds of supporters took off from Buenos Aires bound for Kansas City this week. One of the most renowned fanbases on the planet, those arriving from Argentina will soon immerse themselves among the thousands of individuals from various backgrounds anxious to see superstar Lionel Messi in person.
“The whole planet wants to see him play,” Scaloni said. “He has an effect on not only Argentinian fans, but everyone around the world…He’s essential for us, and he’s going to remain that way.”
Messi leads a star-studded Argentinian roster that also features Nicolás Otamendi, a stalwart on the international stage who didn’t mince words when asked to share his team’s mentality heading into Tuesday’s game and beyond.
“We’re here to give everything – to give it all,” Otamendi said. “We know we’re the world champions, and everyone wants to beat us, so we’re aware that we have to make the most of it.”
It all makes for what should be an incredible night of soccer, and as the eyes of the world turn to the Heartland for a moment decades in the making, Kansas City – unsurprisingly – is making its guests feel right at home.
“Get behind us,” Petković said. “We’ll try to make sure we’re partying come full time.”