News Focus
- Algeria selected the humble DoubleTree hotel in Lawrence, shunning the luxury boutique accommodation in Kansas City favoured by giants like Argentina and England
- University of Kansas student Sajedah mobilised over 70,000 Algerians via social media to organise a rapturous welcome for the squad upon arrival
- Hundreds of locals and diaspora members now attend daily training sessions at Rock Chalk Park, where the University band performs the Algerian national anthem
- Stars including Riyad Mahrez and Ramy Bensebaini have spent hours signing shirts and playing kickabouts with local children during community clinics
- The bond between the team and townspeople has grown so strong that residents now consider Algeria their adopted side ahead of the clash with Argentina
A viral video captures the magic perfectly: an elderly man stands weeping with joy in a thunderstorm outside a hotel in Lawrence, Kansas, as the Algeria national team bus pulls in. This emotional moment has come to symbolise the extraordinary connection between the Desert Foxes and this small American college town.
While powerhouses like Argentina, the Netherlands and England occupy lavish city-centre hotels in nearby Kansas City, Algeria chose to stay 40 miles away at a modest DoubleTree in Lawrence. This decision has transformed the town of 100,000 people into a vibrant hub of North African culture and football passion.
The movement began with Sajedah, a University of Kansas student who runs the social media page “L’Algerie fi Kansas City”. She reached out to the substantial Algerian diaspora living in the southern suburbs of Kansas City, urging them to welcome the squad. Her campaign exploded online, touching 70,000 people and filling the streets with supporters when the team arrived at the airport.
Local artist Stan Herd helped spearhead the town’s response. He created a giant field art rendition of the Algerian flag and convinced businesses to display banners reading “1,2,3, Viva l’Algérie!” Even the local McDonald’s drive-thru erected signs greeting the visitors.
The community sessions at Rock Chalk Park have become festival-like events. The University of Kansas marching band learnt the Algerian national anthem note-for-note, performing it flawlessly as Vladimir Petković’s squad emerged for training. Algerian music blasted from loudspeakers while hundreds of children joined global stars like Mahrez, Ibrahim Maza, Aissa Mandi and Amine Gouiri for a massive kickabout on the athletics infield.
Brothers Aaron and Ethan Downey, local residents who met Sajedah and her mother Karima at the airport, received personalised Algeria shirts. When Ramy Bensebaini signed one brother’s Borussia Dortmund fan shirt, the lad sprinted back up the stadium steps to share an emotional hug with Karima.
“We did not adopt the team,” explained Aaron Downey. “The Algerians adopted us. They brought the culture, the vibes and the acceptance. That is why we have grown so close.”
Head coach Petković admitted the reception gave him goosebumps. “We saw American citizens wearing our scarves. They wanted to celebrate this moment with us,” he said. He now hopes the team can reach the knockout stage so their new Kansas friends might travel to support them in another city.
When Algeria face Argentina at Kansas City Stadium, they will confront thousands of Messi supporters. Yet on the pitch and in the stands, the underdogs will carry the hopes of their unexpected American family from Lawrence.