The University Daily Kansan

COOKshop's June 26 class was based on the 2026 FIFA World Cup match between Algeria and Austria. During the summer in Lawrence, people, particularly students, often find themselves with plenty of time on their hands and just as many options for what to do with it. One of those potential options is COOKshop on 8th, a business that offers cooking classes to aspiring cooks of any skill level.

The Kansas City stadium will host its final 2026 FIFA World Cup game, the quarter finals, on July 11. This match will be between Argentina and Switzerland. While the FIFA World Cup serves as an iconic cultural tradition that unites the world despite political divides, college students say that inflation, ticket prices and packed work schedules may leave this once-in-a-lifetime event just out of reach.

“Soka Kila Mahali,” Gary Mark Smith’s photo quilt, is showcased on Lawrence City Hall on Monday, June 29. To celebrate the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the city of Lawrence’s yearly “Unmistakable Public Art Exhibition” (UPAE) has established six new pieces of soccer-themed public art around town.

The Ramen Bowls location is at 900 New Hampshire St. Since the 2026 FIFA World Cup began, businesses in Kansas City have been vocal about experiencing lower business volume than usual during a time when the opposite was promised, or at least implied by the city with an estimated visitor count of over 650,000+.

The Algerian national team poses for a photo on the field of David Booth Memorial Stadium during their tour on June 11, 2026. What began as a logistical hosting opportunity for the 2026 men’s FIFA World Cup has potentially transformed the University of Kansas Athletics into a globally recognized brand.

Sunflower Apartments demolition progress on June 30. The Sunflower Apartments on the University of Kansas’ west campus were once an affordable housing village for students and staff. The site is now under construction, set to become a parking lot as part of ongoing development of the Gateway District. The Sunflower Apartments were built in 1955 and served university employees, international students, and low-income families with ties to KU. The 130-space lot is expected to be functional by Sept.

Angie Pickmans art piece, “Within Your Grasp,” from her instagram page was presented to the Algerian ambassador on June 13. Angie Pickman was scrolling through Facebook when she saw a post from the city of Lawrence that left her astounded. Lawrence chose Angie Pickman’s “Within Your Grasp” to gift the Algerian ambassador as a diplomatic offering. Stan Herd and his team created the Algerian flag on the Lied Center’s lawn. Both of these pieces depict the city’s friendship with Team Algeria.

The op-ed below does not necessarily reflect the views of the University Daily Kansan and its members. You’ve likely heard of the tragedy that hit Venezuela: two back-to-back earthquakes struck the northern coast, west of Caracas, of the South American country on Wednesday, June 24. The United States Geological Services (USGS) reported on June 25 that a magnitude 7.2 earthquake was followed by a magnitude 7.5 earthquake, with under a minute between the two.

Silhouette against Algerian flag held up by fans at the Cortège Parade at the DoubleTree in Lawrence. The bond built between this college town and the Algerian national soccer team during its 2026 FIFA World Cup stay came together last weekend with back-to-back independence days. On July 4, Americans celebrated the 250th anniversary of their break from British rule, tossing tea into Boston Harbor and launching a democracy that would grow into a world superpower.

Bidding for a spot as a host city seemed nearly impossible. Until it wasn’t. The University of Kansas, Explore Lawrence, Rock Chalk Park and Lawrence city government teamed to argue that their small city could play, or host, on the World Cup Stage. Their bidding preparation started before Kansas City was announced to host a team in June 2022. “We were working on it before — and probably submitted it afterward,”  Lawrence Mayor Brad Finkeldei said.