These Latinos Biked Through 17 Countries Over 9 Months to Make it to the World Cup
Title: Uruguay Argentina Wcup 2026 Soccer Image ID: 25081058101844 Article: Fans of Argentina celebrate as their team defeated Uruguay during a qualifying soccer match for the FIFA World Cup 2026 in Montevideo, Uruguay, Friday, March 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Matilde Campodonico)
The World Cup moves people. It’s hard to explain how much until you have examples like those of these Argentinian fans, who have traveled a long way to see their national team play in the FIFA 2026 World Cup. And they did so in a very peculiar way, too.
Vicente Conculini, Miguel Silio, and Yamandu Martinez rode their bikes almost entirely from Argentina to Kansas City. The journey, which took 9 months, took them through 17 different countries and spanned over 11,000 miles. Ironically, the three did all of this without having a World Cup ticket, as they left home on their journey before tickets were even being sold.
But now, even though they tried multiple times to purchase a ticket and were unable to, they’ll be attending a game.
The three arrived in Kansas City to a crowd comprised of local cyclists and media, who all gathered outside of the Argentina national team’s hotel in Kansas City. Then, in Kansas City, the three were recognized in a way they didn’t expect. The Kansas City Unity Cup, an adult fútbol tournament in the city, recognized the three for their dedication to the national team.
And they got the best present possible: tickets to Argentina’s first World Cup matchup at Arrowhead Stadium, thanks to the Johnson County Board of Commissioners. “The warmth and hospitality we have found in Kansas City has blown us away, and when Chairman Kelly reached out to us on Instagram, we could not believe it,” said Conculini, according to a press release. “To be welcomed like this and to receive tickets to experience the World Cup firsthand — we are so grateful. This is a moment we will never forget.”
Why do it? “This is passion,” one of the men said in an interview. Now they’ll get to watch firsthand how their home country begins their title defense on July 16.