US delegation cheers Algeria to victory in latest chapter of World Cup friendship

The friendship forged between Algeria and the United States during the 2026 World Cup took centre stage again as a 40 to 42-strong American delegation attended Algeria’s 1-0 win over Togo in Tizi Ouzou.

The visitors, from Lawrence and Kansas City in Kansas and Elkader in Iowa, arrived in Algeria on 9 November for an official friendship visit at the invitation of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.

They watched Saturday’s match from the VIP area at Hussein Ait Ahmed Stadium, where Algeria secured victory in the third round of qualifying for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.

Members of the delegation joined the home supporters in the pre-match atmosphere and sang the Algerian national anthem before kick-off. The scenes echoed the welcome given to Algeria’s national team and its supporters in Lawrence during the 2026 World Cup.

According to the Algerian Press Service, the delegation’s presence at the match reflected the continuing ties between the Algerian and American peoples. The visitors also showed their support for the home side throughout the game.

The group includes around 42 American citizens from Lawrence and Kansas City, as well as representatives from Elkader. Among them are Lawrence mayor Brad Finkeldey and Elkader mayor Joshua Pope.

Also travelling to Algeria were former US ambassador to Algeria Elizabeth Moore Aubin, Kansas City police inspector Megan Bardwell, and representatives of the University of Kansas and civil society organisations.

The delegation visited Algeria’s National Technical Centre in Sidi Moussa last Thursday, where members met the national team’s players and coaching staff. The meeting renewed contact with the squad that had been hosted by their city during the World Cup.

Their wider itinerary has included visits to Algiers, Tipaza and Ghardaia, as part of a programme intended to strengthen cultural and human links between the two countries.

Lawrence hosted Algeria’s World Cup training camp, with hundreds of local residents turning out to welcome the players at the airport. The city also saw strong public support for the Algerian fans who travelled there.

One widely shared moment from that period showed police officer Megan Bardwell dancing with Algerian supporters.

Members of the American delegation expressed their deep gratitude for the welcome and hospitality they had received in Algeria. They said the connections established during the World Cup had developed beyond football into a genuine friendship between communities.

American and Algerian media have described the visit as an example of “people-to-people diplomacy”, highlighting its role in strengthening bilateral relations at a human and cultural level.

The delegation’s attendance at the Togo match was one of the visit’s main events, extending a relationship that began in the streets and stands of an American city into an Algerian football stadium.