Algeria Draws Packed Crowd at Rock Chalk Park in Lawrence
algeria drew a packed crowd to Rock Chalk Park in Lawrence on Thursday night, June 11, 2026, for a community training session that mixed local fans with supporters of the national team. The players spent about an hour on stretching, light drills and games before helping young local athletes on a second field.
The session capped a week in Lawrence for a team that had been in town since Sunday and staying at the DoubleTree while preparing for the World Cup. Jason Booker, KU deputy athletic director, said the response around the hotel and along the team’s route was striking.
Lawrence Fans Line K-10
Booker said he first noticed the turnout on Sunday night as he was heading home to Kansas City. “I was actually leaving baseball Sunday night going home to Kansas City, and they had cars lined (up) K-10 with the flags, and I’m like, ‘Wait a minute, what’s going on?’” he said.
He said he did not expect the scale of the support because KU was still planning the event and did not know how many people would show up. “I don’t think we really anticipated (that), because you’re working on it, planning it, but you don’t know who’s going to show up, where they’re coming from, but to see the response for their fans at the hotel and the support has been really cool for the community,” Booker said. He added, “They’re super appreciative,” and said Brahim, Algeria’s director of operations, told KU staff, “You guys have been so accommodating.”
Rock Chalk Park Clinic
The Thursday session was more than a workout. After the main training period, Algerian players moved to a second field and guided young local athletes through a clinic, turning the event into a direct exchange between Lawrence residents and the World Cup team.
Booker said FIFA requires teams to host a community event like Thursday’s, and he said this was expected to be the only such event during Algeria’s stay. Earlier in the day, the team toured Allen Fieldhouse, David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium and Hoglund Ballpark, adding another layer to a visit that has drawn attention far beyond Lawrence.
That wider attention has been visible online, too. Dean Ammi, who covers Algerian soccer, has seen clips of Lawrence locals reach 10 million impressions and 3 million impressions on X, while a video made by Johnny’s Tavern to welcome the Algerian team nearly reached a million views.
Arrowhead Stadium Tuesday
The Lawrence event now gives local fans one more point of contact before Algeria turns to competition. The Greens are scheduled to play Argentina on Tuesday night at 8 p.m. at Arrowhead Stadium, with the team leaving Lawrence after a stay that has already linked a Kansas college town to one of the World Cup’s most visible sides.
