By: Fernanda Silva, Dre Bradley
KANSAS CITY, Missouri (KSHB) — Argentina’s national soccer team arrived in Kansas City Sunday morning ahead of the team’s World Cup title defense.
The team landed at Kansas City International Airport at around 11:20 a.m. Sunday, according to FlightAware.
Flight data shows the 11-hour trip covered over 5,800 miles from Ezeiza International Airport in Ezeiza, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
The flight number for the Aerolineas Argentinas charter was 1978, an homage to the 1978 World Cup that Argentina won as the host nation over the Netherlands.
According to the Argentina National team, most of the Argentina squad arrived on its charter, though some players will arrive from clubs elsewhere in the world.
A few hours before the three-time World Cup champions touched down in KC, their X account posted a picture of a player inside the plane and another of the plane from the outside, with Lionel Messi’s iconic No. 10 on the tail.
Fans were gathered outside the hotel Sunday morning, waiting for the Argentina national team to arrive.
“It’s the passion that I have for these colors, right? For the Albiceleste. It’s different,” Federico Carmona said.
Federico, who has lived in the United States for more than two decades, struggled to find the words to capture the feeling.
“I cannot explain it, but I can live it,” Federico said.
The Carmona family brought three generations to welcome the team. Pedro Carmona, the grandfather, reflected on what the moment meant to him.
“It’s a dream. I don’t think every grandad in the world can live this possibility, this dream,” Pedro said, in an interview in his native Spanish.
Pedro also said the love for Argentina runs deep in his family.
“It’s in their blood,” Pedro said.
Jeremias and Ezequiel Carmona described the rush of the moment.
“It’s amazing, honestly. It’s a lot of emotions going on,” Jeremias said. “Burst of emotions like a balloon just ready to pop.”
Rene Cortese and Rocio Suriani, who have lived in the United States for 15 years and in Kansas City for one, said the feeling goes beyond words.
“We grew up feeling soccer, and it’s something that I think I cannot explain with words. So it’s something that you feel so deeply in your heart,” Suriani said.
Their children, Maximo and Nicky Cortese, shared in the excitement.
“We want to see them for ourselves and feel the passion and feel the energy that they’re bringing for the World Cup,” Maximo said. “Great memories are being made.”
Antonella Nocera, who lives in Blue Springs and has been in the United States for three years, echoed the sentiment shared by nearly everyone in the crowd.
She said it was especially meaningful to share that with her two-year-old son.
“Something that you cannot tell, you actually have to feel it,” Nocera said.
Nicolas Boucher, who has lived in Kansas City for a year, agreed.
“This is just something you cannot describe,” Boucher said.
For Deanna Hartman, the moment carried a sense of historic significance.
“I just wanted to be here and part of the history we are making in Kansas City,” Hartman said.
Argentina plans to spend Sunday doing light training in the hotel gym while awaiting the arrival of the rest of its players.
The team will have its base camp training site at the Sporting KC Training Centre throughout the tournament. Its first full workout is set for Monday.
Argentina is the first of four national teams with a World Cup base camp in the Kansas City metro area to arrive. The Netherlands, England and Algeria are set to touch down this week, AP reports.
The team will play a friendly against Honduras on Saturday and another three days later against Iceland.
Argentina’s quest for back-to-back World Cup championships begins June 16 against Algeria at “Kansas City Stadium” — more commonly known to sports fans as Arrowhead.
Ahead of the game, Argentine fans are organizing a banderazo, a gathering to show support for the team. The event is set for 6 p.m. on June 15 at Mill Creek Park.
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