How Algeria and Kansas became the World Cup’s most unlikely love story

How Algeria and Kansas became the World Cup’s most unlikely love story Submitted by MEE staff on Mon, 06/15/2026 - 18:35 As Muslim and Arab World Cup figures face heightened scrutiny at the US border, one Midwestern city has embraced Algeria with open arms Patrons in Kansas City bar 'Johnny's Tavern' give a warm welcome to the Algerian National Football Team while holding an Algerian flag (@JohnnysTaverns/X Screenshot) Off Before Algeria had even kicked a ball at the 2026 World Cup, the team had already won over one US city. In Lawrence, Kansas, a college town better known for the University of Kansas Jayhawks than for international football, the Algerian national team’s arrival has triggered an unexpected outpouring of affection. The city’s relationship with the Algerian team, affectionately known as the Desert Foxes, began months before the tournament, when Lawrence was officially announced in February as Algeria’s base camp for the World Cup.