Lionel Messi's Argentina to set up base in Kansas City for the 2026 World Cup

Goal reports Argentina, led by Lionel Scaloni, will be based in Kansas City, Mo., for much of the 2026 World Cup and will play their first match of the tournament against Algeria on June 16 at Arrowhead Stadium.

The AFA said that after inspection trips led by the Physical Trainer Luis Martín; the Alternate Physical Trainer Juan Tamone; and the administrators Daniel Cabrera and Alberto Pernas, and after an exhaustive final report, it concluded that Kansas City would be the ideal place due to the distance between cities and amenities for the delegation, and for its convenient location and climate.

Lionel Scaloni's team will train at the Compass Minerals National Performance Center, the same training center as the local MLS side, Sporting Kansas City.

Argentina's 2026 World Cup matches are scheduled as follows: Tuesday, June 16 vs. Algeria in Kansas, Arrowhead Stadium; Monday, June 22 vs. Austria in Dallas, AT&T Stadium; Saturday, June 27 vs. Jordan in Dallas, AT&T Stadium.

United States, Kansas City, Missouri