Fans soak up ‘Messi’s brightness’ in big KC win at Café Corazón
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Café Corazón hosted a crowded World Cup watch party for Argentina vs Algeria.
- Lionel Messi scored three goals, tying Miroslav Klose with 16 World Cup goals.
- Fans celebrated Argentina’s 3-0 victory before dispersing to citywide celebrations.
Chatter bounced off the walls and coffee machines buzzed in the Crossroads’ Café Corazón, as people enjoyed each other’s company with their eyes glued to the TV hanging above the bar.
The World Cup’s first match in Kansas City, Argentina versus Algeria, started off strong for Argentinians, who crowded the cafe Tuesday night for the game.
Lisa Dunne went to Café Corazón with her two kids, Makayla and Eli, to try something new.
“We wanted to experience World Cup stuff, so what better place than an Argentinian cafe?” Dunne said.
They traveled from Olathe to get a taste of Café Corazón for the first time and enjoyed a platter of Latin dishes while watching the game: tamales, Brazilian cheesebread, alfajores, empanadas and even a spicy Mayan mocha.
Dunne said she hopes locals take advantage of the World Cup being in Kansas City, as it’s a great opportunity to experience a global event from a unique perspective.
Wendy Paz, who helps run the cafe’s social media account, sat in one of the chairs on the sidewalk, facing the TV.
“Half of me wanted to go to the game, but this was the closest I could get,” Paz said.
She was also at the cafe’s banderazo the night before, which was a pep rally for the Argentinian team. The event featured classic Argentine street food, a band, Tango dancers and dozens of spirited fans. She loved the turnout and being able to contribute to the international community.
Barely 20 minutes into the game, the crowd suddenly gets quiet as people hold their breaths in anticipation.
Two shots made it past the goal, but both being offsides, they didn’t count. Soon enough, though, Lionel Messi puts one into the back of the net. The crowd cheers for the first goal of the match. The group of fans in the cafe continues to grow, and staff brought chairs from the back of the cafe to make room.
Donning a France World Cup jersey while draped in an Argentinian flag, Esteban Paz is supporting multiple countries this World Cup. Being Mexican-American, he’s especially excited to support other Latino countries like Argentina, which is what brought him and his friends to Café Corazón this evening.
“I’m just here to experience the vibe, I think it’s so special we are hosting the World Cup,” he said.
He’s going with the flow of the night, and plans to see where the crowds of Argentinian fans will go after the game. Yesterday, Esteban saw hundreds of people celebrating at the Plaza, and he hopes to see some more of that tonight.
“I thought it was so cool to see so many people concentrated together,” Esteban said.
Despite supporting multiple teams in this cup, he is cheering for one team to take home the trophy.
“My heart supports Mexico,” he said. “But I think the French are likely to win.”
Esteban is just excited to be a host for the thousands of people visiting this summer, and he plans to be involved with World Cup festivities as much as he can. He will be buying an orange shirt to join the Oranje March, a traditional Dutch parade before World Cup matches, that will take place downtown ahead of the Kansas City match between the Netherlands and Tunisia on June 25.
After two goals, Messi finishes off his streak with a hat trick. The goal also meant he tied with Miroslav Klose for the all-time most goals during FIFA World Cup matches, totaling 16 career World Cup goals.
With only a few minutes left in the match, Café Corazón has gone quiet. Groups of friends have stopped talking and started focusing on the match, wondering if either team will score to change the 3-0 score Argentina holds over Algeria.
Benjamin Ogutu came to Café Corazón with his brothers to have a more intimate experience with other fans. While he was cheering for Algeria, he will “always respect Messi’s brightness.”
“I’m not mad about the result. I’m just happy to watch soccer,” he said.
He’s a big soccer fan, watching the World Cup every four years and tuning into each match with his family whenever he can. This year, he is cheering for the United States and Senegal.
“I’m so excited that Kansas City got to be able to host the World Cup games,” he said. “It just shows how we’re growing as a community and as a city, and it’s really going to get better from here.”
As the game came to a close, fans clapped for Argentina’s successful win over Algeria. Friends and neighbors high five, and they slowly leave to find the crowds of people celebrating throughout the city.