By Libby Hanssen, KCUR
For the 2026 World Cup, the returning champions Argentina will be staying and training in Kansas City — and will play their first game here on June 16. Get to know the Argentinian men’s national team and find out how explore the culture around this region.
Team Argentina, the defending champions of the FIFA World Cup, arrived in Kansas City over the weekend to get ready for a tournament with sky-high expectations.
Nicknamed “la Albiceleste” (the White and Sky Blue), after the flag of the Republic of Argentina and the team’s blue and white striped jerseys, they won the World Cup in Qatar in 2022. They also won 1986 and 1978, with appearances in finals six times. Led by Lionel Messi, Argentina is hoping for a back-to-back victory, something no team has done since Brazil in 1962.
Before the tournament kicks off, KCUR’s Adventure newsletter is bringing you guides to each of the four World Cup teams staying in Kansas City, and how to celebrate the global event through the lens of their country.
Argentina is known for its dedicated fan base, and all around Kansas City we’ll surely hear the chants, songs, and percussion that accompany them.
Read on to find out more about the Argentinian national team and where to find their food and culture around the metro. (Then check out our installments on Algeria and England!)
Where Argentina is staying in Kansas City
Argentina’s base camp is Sporting Kansas City’s Compass Minerals National Performance Center in Kansas City, Kansas. You can take a virtual tour of the facilities and be on the lookout for opportunities for fans to see the team in training, dates and times TBD, should they be available.
Their hotel accommodations, however, will be across state lines on the Berkley Riverfront, at the Origin Hotel, where additional security and street closures are in place — and a large “Vamos Argentina” banner has been hung.
Argentina plays in Group J and their first match is against Algeria in Kansas City on June 16 at Arrowhead Stadium, followed by two matches in Dallas.
They also have two pre-tournament friendlies: June 6 against Honduras in College Station, Texas, and June 9 against Iceland in Auburn, Alabama.
Here is Argentina’s first-round schedule:
- June 16: Argentina vs. Algeria at Kansas City Stadium
- June 22: Argentina vs. Austria at Dallas Stadium
- June 27: Argentina vs. Jordan at Dallas Stadium
Get to know Argentina’s national team
Argentina’s team captain, Lionel Messi, is arguably the most famous footballer right now. Fans and competitors alike were watching him closely after he left the pitch with a leg issue during an Inter Miami game in Philadelphia on May 24, but he’s still slated to join the team.
This will be Messi’s sixth World Cup, and he also holds the record for most World Cup match appearances, at 26. (There was even a 70-foot tall statue of him in India, though it is being taken down for safety reasons.)
Since 2018, Argentina’s 26-man team has been coached by former player Lionel Scaloni, who led their win against France in 2022.
From an all-round strong team, goalkeeper Emiliano “Dibu” Martínez is another standout. He currently plays for Aston Villa in Birmingham, England, but was part of the winning 2022 Argentina team in Qatar. Martínez is known for his impressive record of penalty saves.
You will hear them
Argentinian football fans consider themselves part of the team and are overtly passionate — embracing the concept of “aguante” (endurance), which means showing up even if the situation is tough.
Music historian Eduardo Herrera, who recently gave a talk on Argentinian football music culture at Kansas City Public Library, theorizes that Argentinian football fans compose the largest music-making ensemble in the world. The team’s fanbase has a long history of songs and chants, including the classic “Ole, Ole, Ole.”
In 2022, the song “Muchachos” swept the nation, in the stadium, the streets, and social media, full of allusions to the players, the team, and Argentinian history. There are plenty of options for this year’s anthem, too, like “Vamos Argentina” or “Messi.”
Hardcore fans are called “hinchas,” and you can hear them singing, chanting, playing brass instruments and the iconic bombo de platillo (bass drum with cymbal). You might also see them jumping continuously in the stands.
Kansas City’s local Argentinian fans are organizing “Banderazo Argento” in Mill Creek Park on June 15, the day before Argentina’s game against Algeria. The event is free, and starts at 6 p.m.
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