KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Algeria’s national soccer team is en route to Kansas City, with players and staff expected to land Sunday night ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
At 5:56 p.m. Central European Time, the “Desert Foxes” took off from the Houari Boumedienne Airport in Algiers, Algeria, to embark on a nearly 10-hour journey across the Atlantic Ocean.
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The team is expected to arrive at the Kansas City International Airport (KCI) at about 10:20 p.m. After landing, they will deplane and take a roughly 50-minute trip to their base camp at Rock Chalk Park in Lawrence, Kansas.
The aircraft, an Air Algérie Airbus A330-900neo, features Algeria’s national colors, in addition to several distinctive insignias representing the team.
One of the more recognizable features is the bright green fennec fox displayed on the tail of the plane, also known as the vertical stabilizer. The design draws from the team’s nickname, which also inspired the plane’s name, “The Fennec.”
Algeria’s arrival marks the second team to land in Kansas City for the World Cup. Argentina was the first, having arrived last Sunday. The teams will face off in about nine days, on Tuesday, June 16, for the opening match at Kansas City’s Arrowhead Stadium. For more information about the game and the World Cup schedule in KC, click here.
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The metro is now awaiting the arrival of its final two teams, England and the Netherlands. England is expected to arrive on June 14, while the Netherlands are rumored to hold their first practice on Wednesday — meaning they will likely arrive within the next three days.
FIFA requires teams to arrive at their base camps five days before their first match.
For the latest updates regarding the teams, their arrivals, and the upcoming global soccer tournament, stay tuned to FOX4 News — your 2026 FIFA World Cup headquarters.
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