Algeria embrace Kansas fans as they brace for Argentina opener

Algeria's World Cup journey has been met with an outpouring of local affection in Lawrence, Kansas, where the team has established its base camp. Residents have embraced the North African squad, creating viral videos of enthusiastic support that have deeply touched the team.

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I hope that all of the neutrals do cheer on Algeria, because it's been a wonderful feeling.

Coach Vladimir Petkovic has lauded the "wonderful feeling" of this unexpected backing, noting that "locals from the United States living in this area" have provided a "great helping hand." He hopes the team can "give them something back" on the field. The coach described the sight of "500 to 600 people that first evening that were waiting outside of the hotel" as "goosebumps"-inducing, highlighting the shared excitement for the World Cup atmosphere.

As Algeria prepares for a challenging opener against top-ranked Argentina, Petkovic is instilling a belief in upsets. He pointed to other surprising results in the tournament, stating, "We've seen thus far in this 2026 World Cup that nothing is impossible." The Bosnian coach stressed the importance of focusing on the team's own performance and aiming for a positive result in the first game to build confidence for subsequent matches.

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We've had a great helping hand, even in our open training session… not only the Algerian people, but locals from the United States living in this area.

Petkovic also emphasized a collective strategy rather than singling out individual opponents, even acknowledging the immense talent of Lionel Messi. "I've got the utmost respect for every opponent… but I try and also respect our strengths and assets," he said. "I've never come up with a specific plan to try and stop one individual player, and that won't be the case tomorrow either."

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Seeing 500 to 600 people that first evening that were waiting outside of the hotel, it really gave me goosebumps.

The team's group stage also includes matches against Jordan and Austria. Petkovic noted that opening games at major tournaments are often unpredictable, underscoring the need for his team to concentrate on giving "100 per cent" to achieve an "extra" result.

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This match against Argentina will certainly be a very tricky match against one of the favourites to win the competition as a whole.