Argentina to Set Up Base in Kansas City for FIFA World Cup 2026

The Argentine Football Association has confirmed that the national team will set up its base in Kansas City for the FIFA World Cup 2026. Argentina will begin their title defense against Algeria on June 16 at Arrowhead Stadium. The decision was made after careful consideration of travel distances and available facilities. The tournament will feature a total of 78 matches in the USA, with key dates and venues outlined for the knockout rounds. The US team will also have its group stage matches starting on June 12. Read on for more details about the tournament schedule and Argentina's preparations.

By Narendra Chaudhary Feb 5, 2026, 10:20 IST

Argentina's World Cup Plans

On Thursday, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) revealed that the national team will primarily be stationed in Kansas City during the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Argentina will commence their title defense against Algeria on June 16 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. Following this, they will face Austria on June 22 and Jordan on June 27, both matches scheduled at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas.

AFA's Rationale for Kansas City

The AFA issued a statement explaining, "In preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the Argentine National Team, under the guidance of Lionel Scaloni, will be based in Kansas City for a significant portion of the tournament."

This decision was made after thorough inspections by the coaching and administrative teams, considering the travel distances between Texas and Kansas, as well as the facilities available. The statement continued, "After several site visits led by Head Coach Luis Martin, Assistant Coach Juan Tamone, and administrative staff members Daniel Cabrera and Alberto Pernas, it was determined that Kansas City offers the best location for the tournament, taking into account the distances and amenities available to the team."

Tournament Schedule and Highlights

The tournament will kick off with a match between Mexico and South Africa in Mexico City at 3 PM ET. The group stage will wrap up on June 27, featuring teams like Argentina and Portugal, with stars such as Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, alongside Croatia and England, who boast players like Harry Kane and Bukayo Saka.

The knockout rounds will commence on June 28 and continue until July 3, followed by the round of 16 from July 4 to 7, quarterfinals from July 9 to 11, and semifinals on July 14 and 15.

Venue and Host Nation Details

A total of 78 matches will be hosted in the USA, with Canada and Mexico each hosting 13 games. The quarterfinals will take place entirely in the USA, with venues including Los Angeles, Boston, Kansas City, Miami (for the quarterfinals), Dallas, Atlanta (for the semifinals), and New Jersey (for the finals). Notably, South Korea, along with Canada and Mexico, will not play any matches in the US.

US Team's Group Stage Matches

The US team will kick off their group stage matches at 9 PM ET against Paraguay in Inglewood on June 12, followed by a 3 PM ET match against Australia in Seattle a week later, and a 7 PM match on June 25 against either Turkiye, Romania, Slovakia, or Kosovo at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.