Kansas City, Kan. (AP) — The reigning World Cup champions, Argentina, have attracted significant attention during their stay in Kansas City as they prepare to defend their title. Fans have gathered outside the team’s hotel, and hundreds of reporters attended their first media-open training session at the facilities of Major League Soccer club Sporting Kansas City.

Upcoming Matches and Roster Details

Argentina is set to kick off their title defense against Algeria at Arrowhead Stadium on June 16. Coach Lionel Scaloni announced a 26-man World Cup roster last week, featuring Lionel Messi, who will turn 39 in less than a month. The squad includes 17 players who were part of the team that triumphed over France in the final four years ago in Qatar.

Messi's Injury Concerns

Messi is currently managing muscle fatigue and a mild strain in his left hamstring. The team's medical staff indicated that his recovery will depend on his clinical and functional progress, making it unlikely for him to participate in the upcoming friendlies. On Wednesday, Messi arrived at the practice field after the rest of the team and engaged in conditioning work separately.

While the team has not made any players or coaches available for interviews, they will continue their training in Kansas City before heading to Texas for their first World Cup warm-up match against Honduras on Saturday. Following that, they will face Iceland in Auburn, Alabama, three days later before returning to Kansas City for further training.

Upon arriving in Kansas City, the players were greeted with enthusiasm from fans who had gathered outside the Origin Hotel. They also experienced a taste of local summer weather when a heavy storm swept through the area, causing some disruption. Jake Reid, the president and CEO of Sporting Kansas City, expressed his excitement about hosting the defending champions, stating, “When they pick you as their training site for defending the World Cup, it’s surreal.”