Algeria Chooses 2026 FIFA World Cup Base Camp in Lawrence, Kansas

Algeria has become the fourth Men’s National Soccer Team to set up 2026 FIFA World Cup team base camp in the greater Kansas City region, choosing the University of Kansas’ Rock Chalk Park in Lawrence, Kansas, as its training facility.

It comes after Argentina (Kansas City, Kansas), England (Kansas City, Missouri) and the Netherlands (Kansas City, Missouri) previously announced their chosen base camps in the greater Kansas City region.

While Algeria has not yet announced its team accommodation for the tournament, Lawrence, Kansas, was included in FIFA’s official list as a potential base camp in June 2024. In those plans, it was suggested that teams would train at Rock Chalk Park and stay at the four-star Oread Hotel on 1200 Oread Ave, a ten-minute drive from each other.

Opened in 2014 in northwest Lawrence, Rock Chalk Park was a cooperative effort of the City of Lawrence and Kansas Athletics, providing community athletics and exercise facilities as well as NCAA-standard competition and practice venues for KU soccer, softball, tennis and track and field teams. It includes a 181,000-square-foot Sports Pavilion Lawrence, fitness areas, a walking track, eight basketball courts, a track and field stadium, soccer field, softball stadium and more amenities.

The 2,500-seat stadium for the University of Kansas’ women’s soccer team has its own locker room, players’ lounge, coaches’ office, athletic training room and an equipment room.

“Kansas Athletics is thrilled with our partners in Lawrence to be a base camp selection for the FIFA World Cup 2026,” said Jason Booker, deputy athletic director for the University of Kansas. “Rock Chalk Park is a world-class facility that was validated by the countries that visited and in the level of interest we had in being a base camp. This summer offers a tremendous opportunity to showcase the broader university, Lawrence, Douglas County and our surrounding region. I am very appreciative of the tremendous collaboration across all parties to make this a reality.”

“Lawrence has been preparing for visitors for this tournament for over a year and a half,” said Ruth DeWitt, director of community relations for Explore Lawrence, the city’s convention and visitors bureau. “We are thrilled to extend that welcome to the players, staff, family and fans of the Algerian men’s team.  We are confident our efforts will result in visitors experiencing what it’s like to be a local in Lawrence in a safe, welcoming and fun environment.  We all join in saying, ‘Welcome home, Algeria.’”

“Missouri and Kansas will each host two team base camps — an outcome that reflects both the strength of our regional collaboration and the caliber of what this community offers the world,” said KC2026 CEO Pam Kramer. “Teams don’t choose base camps lightly. When they come to Kansas City, they’re choosing world-class training environments and a region with deep soccer roots and an authentic, knowledgeable culture of hospitality. Hosting four national teams isn’t symbolic — it’s confirmation that our region stands among the best in the world to prepare for, support and inspire elite competition.”

It will be a fifth Men’s FIFA World Cup participation for Les Fennecs in 2026, and their first since Brazil in 2014.

They will begin their Group J campaign against fellow Kansas residents Argentina in Kansas City on June 16, before traveling to Santa Clara to play World Cup debutants Jordan on June 22 and finishing their group stage against Austria back in Kansas City on June 27.

FIFA World Cup Preparations

Read the full list of confirmed base camps so far here.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, which has been expanded to 48 teams, will begin with Mexico vs. South Africa on June 11 in Mexico City, with the final being held on July 19 in New York New Jersey.