The Argentina national football team bid farewell to Kansas City, USA, ahead of the World Cup semi-finals. Captain Lionel Messi thanked the city, which has been used as a training and preparation center since the start of the tournament, in an emotional message on social media.
Lionel Scaloni’s team began their training camp in Kansas City about two weeks before the World Cup began. The reigning world champions returned to the city to train and prepare before and after their group stage matches, making Kansas a key base for Argentina’s World Cup campaign throughout the tournament.
Messi posted a series of photos after his final training session in Kansas, writing, “Last day in Kansas. Thanks for everything!” Defender Lisandro Martinez expressed similar sentiments. He wrote, “Thank you Kansas! Our journey is not over yet.”
After the farewell practice, the team’s players and coaching staff participated in a traditional barbecue ceremony. Then, they officially left the base camp and headed for the semi-final venue.
Argentina’s focus now shifts to the semi-final against England, which will be played in Atlanta. The outcome of the clash will determine the team’s next destination. A win will see them travel to New Jersey for the final, while a loss will see them travel to Miami for the third-place play-off.
Kansas City was not just a training ground throughout the World Cup, but also a vital part of the team’s preparation, confidence and planning. So Messi and his teammates’ farewell message is not just a thank you to a city; it also symbolizes the end of a memorable chapter in their World Cup campaign. Argentina now have just two matches left to defend their title.