Why Lionel Messi’s Argentina chose Kansas City as its base for the 2026 FIFA World Cup

The Argentine Football Association announced on Thursday that the reigning world champions will be based in Kansas City for most of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a decision taken after extensive inspection visits and detailed logistical planning.

Argentina, led by head coach Lionel Scaloni and set to feature Lionel Messi in what is expected to be his final World Cup appearance, will begin their title defence against Algeria on June 16 at the Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City.

Their next two group-stage matches will be played at the AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, against Austria on June 22 and Jordan on June 27.

In a statement, the AFA said that Kansas City was selected after several inspection trips conducted by Physical Trainer Luis Martín, Alternate Physical Trainer Juan Tamone, and administrators Daniel Cabrera and Alberto Pernas.

Following an exhaustive final report, the association concluded that Kansas City would be the ideal base for the tournament, primarily due to the manageable distances between host cities and the quality of facilities available to the team.

Central location and facilities tilt Argentina’s choice towards Kansas City

Although Argentina will travel to Dallas for two of their group fixtures, the AFA highlighted the convenience of Kansas City’s location and its climate as key factors behind the decision.

During the tournament, the Albiceleste will train at the Compass Minerals National Performance Center, the same facility used by Major League Soccer club Sporting Kansas City.

The 2026 World Cup will open with a match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City at 3 PM ET. The group stage will conclude on June 27, with several high-profile teams in action on the final day, including Argentina, Portugal, Croatia, and England.

The expanded tournament schedule will see the round of 32 played from June 28 to July 3, followed by the round of 16 from July 4 to July 7.

Quarterfinals will take place between July 9 and July 11, with semifinals scheduled for July 14 and July 15. A total of 78 matches will be held in the United States, with 13 each in Canada and Mexico.

US to host all knockout matches from quarterfinals onward

The quarterfinals and beyond will be staged entirely in the United States. Los Angeles, Boston, Kansas City and Miami will host the quarterfinals, while Dallas and Atlanta will stage the semifinals. The final will be played in New Jersey.

South Korea, along with Canada and Mexico, is one of only three teams that will not play any matches in the United States.

The US national team’s first-round fixtures will include a 9 PM ET kickoff against Paraguay in Inglewood on June 12, a 3 PM ET match against Australia in Seattle a week later, and a 7 PM ET game on June 25 against Turkiye, Romania, Slovakia or Kosovo at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.

For Argentina, the choice of Kansas City reflects a carefully considered balance of travel efficiency and infrastructure, as the world champions aim to create a stable base in their bid to defend the title they won in Qatar in 2022.

(With inputs from ANI)