In the weeks since the Algerian national soccer team arrived in Lawrence, Kansas, for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the city has embraced the visitors with unexpected enthusiasm, symbolized most notably by the local university marching band’s quick adoption of Algeria’s national anthem, Kassaman.

Sharon Lee Toulouse, director of the University of Kansas (KU) marching bands, spearheaded the effort to learn the anthem ahead of an open training session hosted by the Algerian team at the university’s facilities. Drawing on her military background, Toulouse contacted the United States Army Band—commonly known as Pershing’s Own—which serves as the official repository for the music of national anthems worldwide. After obtaining the official sheet music from the band’s online database, she arranged for one of KU’s smaller ensembles to rehearse Kassaman. Despite limited practice time—around 15 minutes—the band performed the anthem during the team’s public training session last week, eliciting a visibly positive reaction from the players.

“Players were really happy,” Toulouse said, emphasizing the significance of playing an accurate and respectful rendition of a national anthem. “No song means more to you than your anthem. We wanted to show them how welcome they are, how happy we are to have them in Lawrence.”

The display of hospitality runs deeper than the band’s performance. Since the team’s arrival on June 7, the city has demonstrated a warmth that contrasts with expectations shaped by political and cultural divides. The Algerian squad chose to stay at the Hilton DoubleTree on the city’s outskirts, a hotel selected partly for its pool, a preference voiced by the players themselves. Though they did not book the entire hotel, many fans have taken advantage of the chance to stay near players such as Riyad Mahrez and Rayan Ait-Nouri.

Local residents have taken to social media to share videos chanting “Vive l’Algérie” and have purchased team merchandise to show their support. The team’s open training session drew a large crowd, culminating in an hour-long coaching clinic for local children led by Algerian staff. Flags bearing the Algerian colors now fly from residences in and around downtown Lawrence, alongside or even instead of the American flag, a sign of genuine local engagement.

Observers note that Lawrence’s embrace of Algeria challenges common political narratives. Kansas has not voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since 1964, and Algeria was previously designated a “restricted” nation by the Trump administration, requiring World Cup fans to post large bonds to attend matches. However, the presence of the University of Kansas—characterized as a “blue dot in a red sea”—and its extensive international exchange programs contribute to a community experienced in welcoming visitors from abroad.

Albert Auzenne, a California native who has lived in Lawrence for eight years, attributed the city’s welcoming spirit to the university’s influence. “There are a lot of families in town who know what it’s like to have someone come from overseas and stay in their home,” he said. “It’s just kind of ingrained in us to be welcoming to non-Americans.”

Community leaders involved in hosting the team framed the relationship between Lawrence and Algeria as a “love story” at a moment when the broader national climate often feels polarized. Toulouse echoed this sentiment, highlighting the episode as an example of “what America can be.”

The connection between the city and the Algerian team extended beyond Lawrence when fans traveled to Kansas City to support the squad during their World Cup match against Argentina at Arrowhead Stadium. Those who remained organized local block parties, where Kassaman featured prominently in the soundtrack, and many community members joined in singing along.

The Lafayette, Kansas-based band director described the experience as “magical” and emblematic of an ongoing bond between a small Midwestern college town and a North African nation thousands of miles away, a connection unlikely to fade even as the tournament continues.