LAWRENCE (KSNT) – The City of Lawrence will host a men’s soccer team for the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Kansas City.
Erinn Barcomb-Peterson with the University of Kansas said that Team Algeria has selected Lawrence to serve as its base camp for the 2026 FIFA World Cup this summer. The men’s soccer team will use Lawrence as its temporary home while it trains, rests and prepares for the upcoming tournament.
“Kansas Athletics is thrilled with our partners in Lawrence to be a base camp selection for the FIFA World Cup 2026,” said Jason Booker, deputy athletic director for the University of Kansas. “Rock Chalk Park is a world-class facility that was validated by the countries that visited and in the level of interest we had in being a base camp. This summer offers a tremendous opportunity to showcase the broader university, Lawrence, Douglas County and our surrounding region. I am very appreciative of the tremendous collaboration across all parties to make this a reality.”
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Barcomb-Peterson said more than two years of preparation and planning have gone into this plan to make Lawrence a home for Team Algeria. Several groups in Douglas County formalized a Unified Command structure in early 2025 to coordinate preparations for the upcoming tournament which will have matches in Kansas City in June and July.
“Lawrence has been preparing for visitors for this tournament for over a year and a half,” said Ruth DeWitt, director of community relations for Explore Lawrence, the city’s convention and visitors bureau. “We are thrilled to extend that welcome to the players, staff, family and fans of the Algerian men’s team. We are confident our efforts will result in visitors experiencing what it’s like to be a local in Lawrence in a safe, welcoming and fun environment. We all join in saying, ‘Welcome home, Algeria.’”
You can learn more about how Lawrence will be helping Team Algeria settle in by clicking here.
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