When they started their bicycle trek from Gualeguaychú, Argentina, late last year, the three friends did not have World Cup match tickets.

They were only hoping to draw some support for Argentina in Kansas City, where the team will play its first group stage game. Maybe they would meet the team and get a picture, but a ticket was uncertain.

Miguel Silio, one of the friends, reportedly said he trusts he’d be able to get in on match day, as he did in the past two World Cups to which he also biked.

The trio arrived in Kansas City four days ago, after nine and a half months, 17 countries and 10,500 miles. And on Saturday, against the backdrop of an internationally spirited amateur tournament at Heritage Park in Olathe, they got a surprise.

Tickets — and good ones — about 15 rows up from the pitch at Arrowhead Stadium (renamed “Kansas City Stadium” for the duration of the World Cup tournament).

The three appeared delighted but stunned after County Commission Chair Mike Kelly presented them with the donated tickets, whose comparable sections were listed on Seat Geek for $1,000 or more apiece.

“I don’t have a word for it,” said Vicente Conculini, “but thank you so much.”

The presentation and the tournament shared a concept worth promoting, Kelly said.

“Sports is one of the great things that connects us across the world and gives us the opportunity to recognize the humanity in everybody,” Kelly said. “Your story is so incredibly inspirational,” he said of their arduous journey.

“That is the kind of thing that inspires us all to do something good,” he added.

A 293-day journey by bike

Conculini, along with Silio and their third cyclist friend, Yamandú Martínez, began planning their trip after Argentina won the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. They would ride normal non-electric aluminum-framed bikes, toting about 80 to 90 pounds of gear.

“We love going by bicycle, we love travel of course and we love football,” Conculini said when asked why they decided to go such a distance by bike. “Why not?”

From their starting place last August, just north of Buenos Aires on the Atlantic side of South America, they headed north and east through Brazil and the western countries but ran into problems in Ecuador, where violence had followed a relocation of maximum security prisoners.

Colombia also presented danger because of a car bombing along their route, Conculini said, and they had to fly from Colombia to Panama because they were not able to get passage on a ship.

From there they crossed through Central America and Mexico before reaching Texas and Kansas City.

The trip has been worth it, Conculini said.

“We traveled 293 days and nothing happened. Only these two things. Two days in 293 days,” he said.

Three cyclists honored at KC Unity Cup event

The three friends’ accomplishment was celebrated at the Unity Cup, an amateur World Cup-themed soccer tournament at Heritage Park in which adult teams representing various nations and cultures competed in 7-on-7 soccer matches.

Kelly said the tournament celebrates people with roots throughout the world.

“We are showcasing the diversity and richness of the culture here in Johnson County that all comes together in sport,” he said. “We live in interesting times around the world. But it’s events like the World Cup, events like this Unity Cup, that can bring us together, show us that we have a lot more in common than we do apart.”

The tournament, organized by the Johnson County Park and Recreation District with help from the Ethnic Enrichment Commission of Kansas City, Missouri, is in its first year, but park officials said it has had a good response and might be offered or expanded in future years, even without the World Cup.

Thirteen teams of 15 players each signed up representing Japan, Palestine, Thailand, Honduras, France, Sudan, Bangladesh, Ecuador, India, Haiti, a combined Laos/Hmong team, Nepal and Ethiopia for the two-day tournament.

KC Unity Cup brought cultures together

The Thailand team was put together by friends who play twice a week for fun, said Khio Jaksen, of Shawnee, as she waited to watch her husband, Sam Jaksen, and his friends play.

“I love watching soccer,” she said, adding her husband was excited to be representing Thailand in the games. “I hope they’re doing this every year.”

At another field, Pierre Bellerice of Lenexa and his team representing Haiti were resting after having beaten the India squad in a 12-2 blowout. Bellerice’s team plays on Sundays and keeps up with its members via a Facebook page, he said.

The Unity Cup is a good idea, “especially with the World Cup being in Kansas City. It brings everybody together,” he said. “On the weekend it’s fun to come out and play with your mates.”

Yoshi Nishikawa’s team representing Japan lost its first game. Some of the adult players, many of whom work at the Panasonic factory near De Soto, heard about the tournament from their children attending a weekend Japanese school in Lenexa, he said.

Nishikawa said he loves the idea of the tournament.

“Next year if they have it, it’s going to be great,” he said.

Liam Patel, Zareb Rahman and Alif Rahman, on the Bangladesh team, left their tie game with Ecuador with good feelings about the tournament. Liam and Alif play soccer at Blue Valley High School and Zareb plays intramural soccer at the University of Kansas.

“There was no bad blood, it was all fun and games, ” Zareb said.