The Argentina national football team arrived in Kansas City for the World Cup 2026, bringing over 500 kg of high-quality beef and two dedicated chefs. This initiative, reported by Todo Noticias (TN), a major Argentine news agency, is part of a meticulous nutritional plan by the coaching and medical staff. The beef, intended for traditional asado barbecues, aims to maintain the players' diet and strengthen team bonds during their stay at the Origin Hotel.

This practice is a long-standing tradition for Argentina, a nation globally celebrated for its asado. At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, the team transported 2,6 tons of beef for their players. Asado is a distinctive Argentine barbecue, typically slow-cooking beef on a parrilla grill over hot embers. It extends beyond a meal, serving as a cherished cultural gathering and a favorite of star player Lionel Messi.

Asado prioritizes the beef's natural flavor, with minimal seasoning. Chefs often sprinkle sal parrillera, a slow-dissolving grilling salt, sometimes adding black pepper, and serve it with chimichurri herb sauce. Coach Lionel Scaloni emphasized the cultural importance in 2022, stating, "Asado is our favorite dish. These barbecue gatherings also create a sense of unity, strengthening team cohesion. It is part of Argentine culture".

Messi barbecues asado after a 2-1 victory over Real Madrid in October 2013. Photo: *Instagram/leomessi*.

The selection of beef cuts brought to World Cup 2026 is varied, including: sirloin, tenderloin, flank, short rib, skirt, ribeye, ribs, and shin. Cross-cut short ribs, known as asado de tira, are particularly popular among many Argentine players. Transporting such a large quantity of beef to the United States required months of preparation and complex logistics, including navigating strict quarantine procedures and meeting all US customs requirements.

The team settled in Kansas City in late May, early June. Just three days before their opening match against Algeria, the two chefs prepared an asado meal for 81 people, underscoring the immediate integration of this tradition into their World Cup routine.

Staff at an Argentine restaurant in Kansas City, US, prepare asado for customers on 14/6. Photo: *AFP*.

The team's choice to base themselves in Kansas City, a city renowned for its American-style barbecue, added an interesting dynamic to the story. Kansas City boasts over 100 barbecue restaurants, famous for smoked meats like brisket. According to Reuters, while a debate over which barbecue style is superior might be endless, Argentine fans have warmly embraced the local BBQ scene.

At the popular Joe’s Kansas City Bar-B-Que restaurant, lines extended out the door as many Argentine fans sampled brisket and other local specialties before the Algeria match. Fan Alejandro Cuenca remarked, "Nothing compares to a proper Argentine asado. I would not miss it for anything, but the BBQ here is also very good". Another fan, Cristian Gastes, agreed that Kansas City barbecue is "really very good", though asado remains his top choice, with his son describing it as "fantastic".