The Algerian National team will train at Rock Chalk Park as they prepare for the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup this summer. This will be Algeria’s first World Cup appearance since 2014, when they lost to Germany in the round of 16.
With the team having total access to all Rock Chalk Park amenities, Deputy Athletics Director for the University of Kansas Jason Booker said FIFA will not allow anyone outside the Algerian team to access the facilities, including local teams who regularly use these resources.
“It will impact the teams that normally practice there or host camps in the summer, as security with FIFA won’t allow anyone but Algeria to access our main Rock Chalk Park facility,” Booker said. “We have a full workout facility in and training pitch that they will have access too.”
The team coming to Lawrence will bring a large group of people connected to the Algerian team to the area. Lawrence Director of Community Relations Ruth DeWitt said around 15,000 people can be expected with the team bringing players, staff and fans.
“The team brings 26 players, but they also bring a coaching staff, trainers, chefs, physical therapists and sometimes fans choose to stay in the same town as their team,” DeWitt said. “We are imagining people will be in our bars and restaurants, shopping for things to take back home and staying in our hotels. We hope to see lots of revenue come into Lawrence to help with our city budget.”
The process of being selected involved being visited by both FIFA and the team itself. DeWitt said she thinks Algeria chose Lawrence because of the quality facilities and welcoming nature of the city.
The World Cup has only been in the United States one other time, which was in 1994. Freshman Sam Clarke said the World Cup coming to the U.S. will help grow the game here in America.
“I’m very excited for the World Cup being here in the United States and specifically in Kansas City,” Clarke said. “It is great exposure for the sport in the U.S., and it will help grow the game here in the States, since soccer is often eclipsed by sports like football or basketball.”
With a World Cup team training in Lawrence and playing two of its three group stage games in Kansas City, Clarke said it will be fun to cheer on the team.
“I feel more excitement than pride about the team staying here,” Clarke said. “Algeria may not be the best team in the competition, but it will be fun to cheer them on more than I would have if they had been staying somewhere else.”
Sophomore Rylan Kemp said that Algeria’s choice to stay in Lawrence is a very unique opportunity that allows the city to be involved in something that unites people around the world.
“The opportunity that Lawrence has gotten to host a team in the World Cup is an amazing opportunity,” Kemp said. “It allows Lawrence to be more involved in this worldwide showcase that unites
everyone around the world.”
