The world is in North America for the next six weeks. 48 teams have descended upon the continent’s shores for the grandest FIFA World Cup to date, spread across 16 host cities and 23 more communities where teams have set up their base camps.
The expanded tournament has also paved the way for the largest African contingent at the event to date, with 10 nations participating. This includes the return of the two-time continental champions, Algeria. The Desert Foxes will be making their fifth World Cup appearance in 2026, after missing out on the previous two editions.
Notably, it would be the first, and in all likelihood, the last chance for Riyad Mahrez to lead his team’s hopes on the global stage. A Premier League winner with Leicester City and Manchester City, the 35-year-old played just one game in 2014. However, he is now indisputably the heartbeat of the team, and will be backed by some formidable talent from across the top five leagues in Europe. Chief amongst them is City fullback Rayan Aït-Nouri, along with Marseille marksman Amine Gouiri and Leverkusen forward Ibrahim Maza.
The team has currently set up shop at the University of Kansas in the city of Lawrence, boasting a population of just 100,000 people. The iconic college arena Rock Chalk Park was allotted to them as the home practice turf after receiving significant renovations. And while Algeria would have expected a quiet reception given USA’s nascent footballing culture, they were in for quite a shock.
As expected, the small migrant and travelling Algerian communities came out in force to back the team. However, to Algeria’s pleasant surprise, the locals came out in equal fervour at their training sessions. Quickly, the Algerian fever swept across the city. Locals went from selling green-and-white knitting sets and fennec fox statuettes in the stores to blaring out Algerian folk songs in the public. They have not shied from showering love to the players in media interviews either, while families have flooded the team with video messages expressing their support.
In fact, Lawrence now even has their very own chant for the football team. Since 1886, the city has used the same rallying cry to inspire their college sports teams named the Jayhawks. The chant began as ‘Rah Rah Jayhawks’ which soon transformed into the nicely rhyming ‘Rock Chalk Jayhawks’. The change was inspired by the large reserves of limestone variety chalk rock in the state, including in Mount Oread on top of which the University sits. Now, the latest version of the chant echoes ‘Rock Chalk Algeria’ in honor of their World Cup visitors. The slogan has spread rapidly not only on the ground, but also across social media.
Another one of those sentences you thought you'd never hear. pic.twitter.com/ojlaGFbN7i
— Harold R. Kuntz (@HaroldRKuntz3) June 11, 2026
The love has gone both ways too. Algeria have repaid the affectionate embrace by fully committing to the FIFA-mandated community sessions. The global soccer stars opened their training ground to the Lawrence youth, as they combined for training drills and took selfies together.
The heartwarming welcome will hold Algeria in good stead as they prepare for a tough group featuring defending champions Argentina, European juggernauts Austria, and World Cup debutants Jordan. The side is set to open their campaign against La Albiceleste at the Kansas City Stadium on June 17. Someone tell Toto we are not in Kansas anymore, because Algeria has taken over!
