LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — It’s hard to pinpoint exactly when Algeria felt at home in the small college town where the University of Kansas is located.
Maybe it was when 500 people showed up at the airport. Welcoming the national team for the World Cup. Or when the Phenex players saw a giant Algerian flag made from mulch and sand by local artist Stan Heard. Or maybe when members of your school’s marching band took the time to learn North Africa’s national anthem, “Casaman.”
Lionel Messi scores a hat trick Argentina won 3-0 The tournament started last week. “And thank you so much for making me feel welcome.”
But the feel-good story of the town and the team comes at a complicated time for Algeria. More than 5,000 miles from the World Cup venues, authorities are cracking down on protests, social media and other forms of public dissent, human rights activists say.
That includes the detention of French journalist Christophe Gleize on what critics say is a trumped-up charge of “advocating terrorism.”
This is just one example of how politics and sports often intersect on the world’s biggest stages.
“He is a soccer journalist and nothing less than a soccer journalist,” Gray’s parents, Sylvie and Frances Godard, said in a statement. “This never-ending situation is devastating for us. We once again appeal to President (Abdelmadjid) Tebboune to grant Christophe a pardon so that he can regain his freedom, his family and his job as a sports journalist as soon as possible.”
Welcome mat rolled out in Kansas
Algeria is Headquarters are in the Kansas City areaeven though it’s 40 miles west of the metro. But while Argentina, the Netherlands and England have been treated like family by the World Cup’s smallest host city, the bond that developed between Algeria and Lawrence was something entirely different.
Players hit hoop shots at Allen Fieldhouse, the historic home of the Jayhawks. They threw a football at Memorial Stadium. Signs written in Arabic throughout the city encourage the Algerian players, who spend their free time kicking a ball with local youth.
“The more we learn about the challenges Algerians faced to get here, the more determined we are to show how welcoming our city is,” said Ruth DeWitt, director of community relations for the city’s Convention and Tourism Bureau.
“They quickly became our home team,” DeWitt said. “Companies have displayed Algerian flags, banners and merchandise in their shop windows. Schools and summer camps have carried out projects to learn about Algeria, organizations have created welcome videos and our arts program has created public exhibitions highlighting the international connections between football and people.”
Just as the Algerian players have left their mark on Lawrence, so have the local players.
Algeria national team coach Vladimir Petkovic said, “I got goosebumps when I saw the fans waiting outside the hotel on the first night. And it made me feel proud. Then we had the opening training and I saw so many Americans holding scarves for us. They showed so much support, and they really wanted to celebrate this moment.”
FIFA president urges Algeria to commit ‘great act of humanity’
However, as the World Cup was about to begin, it was FIFA president Gianni Infantino himself who turned the spotlight on Gleize and asked for amnesty from the Algerian authorities. french writer Detained since 2024 as part of a controversial seven-year sentence for “glorifying terrorism” and “possession of propaganda harmful to national interests”.
FIFA granted Griez media status for the tournament, symbolically making room for him.
“I invited his parents to the game,” Infantino said, “but I hope, as a great act of humanity, he can be given a reprieve, a presidential reprieve, and even be here for the World Cup. I really hope. But while he’s not here, his seat is here for him.”
Glaize was detained during the investigation into the death of Algerian soccer player Albert Ebos. His appeal was dismissed in December The incident has been condemned by Reporters Without Borders as “baseless and outrageous” and critics say it is an example of Tebboune’s government shutting down the media, social activists and political debate.
While in custody, Glaze tried to complete his job. In a recent press conference, Vincent Duluc of the daily L’Equipe said he was asking French national team coach Didier Deschamps about hydration breaks during the World Cup on his behalf.
Deschamps said: “As for Christophe, I had the opportunity to meet his parents at the French Cup final. I hope that he and his family will be here as soon as possible and that he will be in a position to ask questions.”
Algeria continues in World Cup, Jordan wins on Monday
Far from Algerian courts, cells and politics, the Algerian national team, led by Mahrez, Rayan Ait Nouri and Mohamed Amoula, will take to the pitch again on Monday for a crucial Group J match against Jordan in Santa Clara, California.
It’s been almost a week since Les Phenex lost to Argentina at Arrowhead Stadium, not far from Lawrence’s home base. At the World Cup, 32 out of 48 teams will advance to the final tournament, but suddenly there will be intense pressure to win.
Algeria have appeared five times, but have never progressed beyond the round of 16.
They did not qualify for the past two World Cups at all.
“To tell you the truth, we are used to having hundreds of thousands of (our) fans behind us and that is the great thing about Algerian football. Not only do they support us, but so many people put up with us. Some fans are very critical, but they are still very happy and proud to support their country and country,” Petković said.
That sounds a lot like some people in eastern Kansas who chose to embrace Algeria during the World Cup.
Petkovic said: “I hope everyone on the neutral ground will support Algeria, because it was a great feeling. We had a lot of help. Even in the open practice, they gave a really positive atmosphere, not only to the Algerians, but also to the American locals who live in the area. We will try to give something back to them.”
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AP World Cup coverage: https://apnews.com/hub/fifa-world-cup
