Curacao, an island nation with a population just over 150,000, is the smallest nation to ever qualify for the men’s World Cup. This is the team’s first World Cup appearance, and they’re uniformly considered an underdog. Even so, fans are thrilled to see their team compete against Ecuador on Saturday.

Every FIFA World Cup match broadcast on FOX Sports this year includes pages of facts, figures and storylines researched by a soccer fan working from his home in Topeka.

Lawrence, Kansas, has gone viral for its embrace of the Algerian team based on the University of Kansas' campus for the summer. For locals with African ties, it's a chance to celebrate the continent's biggest World Cup delegation yet.

For the first time in World Cup history, FIFA is mandating all soccer players take hydration breaks to protect them from the threats of extreme heat. But the new rule has sparked criticism.

Airbnb partnered with Mayor Pro Tem Ryana Parks-Shaw, Kansas City Public Schools and the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Kansas City to give 75 tickets for students and their coaches to attend World Cup matches.

En uno de los partidos más esperados de la Copa Mundial, la vigente campeona Argentina derrotó 3-0 a Argelia con un triplete de Lionel Messi. El primer encuentro disputado en Kansas City también tuvo un toque local: ambas selecciones eligieron la región como sede de sus campamentos base y, en el camino, sumaron numerosos seguidores locales.

“Rock Chalk Algeria” has turned into the World Cup's most unusual, amazing rallying cry. Even though the Algerian national team lost 0-3 on Tuesday against powerhouse Argentina, they've already won hearts around Kansas City. Unfortunately, traffic woes meant that some fans didn't get to the stadium in time for kickoff.

One of the most anticipated games of the World Cup, returning champions Argentina defeated Algeria 3-0 with a Lionel Messi hat trick. The first match held in Kansas City, it was also a hometown battle: Both teams chose the region for their base camps, accumulating many local fans along the way.

Algerian Delights in Lenexa, Kansas, served a steady stream of green-and-white adorned customers before Tuesday night's World Cup game between Algeria and Argentina. Many drove from out-of-state for the chance to see their country compete.

The FBI said the local and state drone task force has detected 14 illegal flights in just the first week of World Cup festivities in Kansas City.

The Kansas town's affections for Team Algeria have been a bright spot in the World Cup, with one resident going viral thanking the team for making its home base there. Algeria play their first match of the tournament at Kansas City Stadium on Tuesday night.

Argentina and Algeria face off June 16 at 8 p.m. at Kansas City Stadium. Demand for ConnectKC26's direct bus service to the stadium for the match is surging, with some routes already sold out.