The small Kansas city of Lawrence has become Algeria's World Cup home base, with residents hosting the team and celebrating their arrival.
In a small Kansas city, a World Cup connection has blossomed as Algeria selected Lawrence for their tournament base. The city of roughly 100,000 people has transformed into a sea of Algerian flags to show their support.
Ruth DeWitt, director of community relations at Explore Lawrence, explained the preparations began in February once Algeria was confirmed as coming.
'When we found out that Algeria was coming here in February, we started preparations to make sure they knew they were going to be welcome,' she said. 'And Lawrence has just rolled out the red carpet for the team in so many different ways. We are so happy that they chose Lawrence as their base camp. We've never had anything like this here before so we are just thrilled that they're here.'
Before the team arrived, Lawrence held 'Soccer 101' classes to teach locals football rules and share insights about Algeria and fan traditions.
Hundreds of fans greeted the players as they entered the city, with even larger crowds filling Rock Chalk Park for the team's community training session where players engaged with local children.
Many Algerian communities live just outside Kansas City in neighboring Missouri, about 40 miles from Lawrence, leading to daily visitors hoping to see their heroes.
Alongside her regular duties, DeWitt opened her home to Algerian supporter Wassini Souarit from Minneapolis for the duration of the tournament.
DeWitt reflected on Lawrence's welcoming spirit, noting it reflects the city's character.
'I think it's part of who Lawrence is to begin with,' she said. 'But then there were so many challenges for Algerians to travel here and we just adopted them as our home team. And of course we're rooting for the USA, but we're rooting for Algeria just as much because we are so happy that they chose Lawrence as their base camp. That's exactly what the World Cup is about. That's what people told us the World Cup is about. And so you sort of think that 'that's right', but until you experience it for yourself, you have absolutely no idea how powerful that connection really is.'
Algerian flags now adorn Lawrence as the team prepares for their opening match against Argentina, holders of the title, at Kansas City Stadium—home of the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs—on Tuesday at 02:00 BST Wednesday.
Supporter gatherings have taken place at Union Station in Kansas City, while artist Stan Herd created a massive art installation of Algeria's flag on the University of Kansas campus.
The installation can be seen in full from the campus rooftop.
'We are so excited - a town of 100,000, to welcome these amazing people from Algeria,' Herd said. 'So we're having people, restaurant owners are cooking halal. This town is really embracing for ourselves as much as for our visitors, but this is a very welcoming town.'
Herd, 76, believes Lawrence's enthusiasm for football is growing beyond American football traditions.
'I think it's a pretty welcoming state, but we're beginning to love football more than [American] football,' he remarked.
He also emphasized how the tournament brings people together from around the world who are visiting the U.S. and Lawrence for the first time.
'I do think that that's the case [that] a lot of people, through an effort like this, make common cause with their neighbours that they may have passed by for years. And now that we're all on the same team now trying to show and present ourselves in the best way we can. We are very welcoming community. We see this is a very great opportunity to show how Kansans welcome the world.'
Algeria's World Cup journey begins against defending champions Argentina at Kansas City Stadium, the home venue of the NFL's Kansas City Chiefs, on Tuesday at 02:00 BST Wednesday.