Reigning World Cup champion Argentina arrived in Kansas City on Sunday to prepare for its title defense, which begins with a match against Algeria on June 16 at Arrowhead Stadium, home of the NFL’s Chiefs.
The 11-hour, 6,000-mile flight from Ezeiza International Airport landed in Missouri just after 11 a.m. local time. The flight number for the Aerolineas Argentinas charter was 1978, a tribute to the 1978 World Cup that Argentina won as hosts over the Netherlands in front of more than 71,000 fans at the River Plate Stadium in Buenos Aires.
The aircraft itself, an Airbus A330, also celebrated the Argentine team with a special livery. Lionel Messi’s number 10 was on the tail amid the national team’s iconic blue and white stripes, while three gold stars represented the three World Cup titles.
Argentina is the first of four national teams to reach their World Cup home base in the Kansas City metro.
The Netherlands, England and Algeria – who will study at the University of Kansas in nearby Lawrence – are expected to arrive this week.
Most of the Argentina squad arrived on charter, although some players will come from clubs elsewhere in the world. After disembarking the plane, players and staff walked across the tarmac to waiting charter buses for the trip to the team hotel.
Messi and Co. stay at the Origin Hotel near downtown Kansas City, Missouri. Fences have been built around the grounds and extra security has been provided for the team, while signage, posters and other references to the team known as La Albiceleste are everywhere in the relatively new hotel, including huge images of some of the team’s biggest stars on the outside of the building.
The team planned to spend Sunday doing light workouts in the hotel gym while waiting for the rest of the players to arrive. The first full practice is scheduled for Monday at the Compass Minerals National Performance Center, home of MLS club Sporting Kansas City.
Argentina will play Honduras in a friendly on Saturday at Kyle Field in College Station, Texas, home of Texas A&M. The final game is three days later against Iceland at Jordan-Hare Stadium in Alabama, home of another SEC football team, Auburn.
Argentina national coach Lionel Scaloni announced his 26-man World Cup squad on Thursday. At the top is Messi, who turns 39 in less than a month, and features 17 players who were part of the team that triumphed against France in the Qatar final four years ago.
READ ALSO | Full list of law changes coming into effect during the World Cup
Several players were doubtful due to injuries of varying severity ahead of the June 1 deadline set by FIFA for finalizing all World Cup squads. Among them was Messi, who is suffering from muscle fatigue and a mild strain in his left hamstring.
The club has said his recovery time will depend on “his clinical and functional progress.” Messi is playing in his sixth World Cup, having previously competed in Germany, South Africa, Brazil, Russia and Qatar.
Published on June 1, 2026
