King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima cheered the Netherlands in Houston, then flew north to Kansas City to watch Curaçao play Ecuador—turning World Cup weekend into a two-team moment tied to Curaçao’s place within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands started Saturday cheering the Dutch team after their match in Houston. The royal couple then ended the day in Kansas City, watching Curacao play Ecuador.
After a quick flight north. the monarchs swapped their bright orange scarves of Het Oranje Legioen for bright blue ones from The Blue Wave. Curaçao is a constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. meaning King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima serve as its heads of state—so the trip turned into more than a sightseeing stop.
For Willem-Alexander, it was also personal.
“It is an extra-special World Cup because we have both the Netherlands and Curacao,” Willem-Alexander told RTL-TV. “So we have twice as many teams to cheer for. A great opportunity to cheer on both the Blues and the Oranges. All in all. it will be a special World Cup for me with two teams. and I naturally hope they go extremely far.”.
Earlier on Saturday, the Netherlands edged closer to the knockout round with a 5-1 win over Sweden. Brian Brobbey and Cody Gakpo each scored two goals as coach Ronald Koeman’s team rebounded from a disappointing draw in its opener and moved atop Group F.
The Netherlands concludes group play against Tunisia on Thursday in Kansas City.
Curaçao arrives at the tournament as the smallest World Cup team in population and size. It made its World Cup debut last Sunday, falling 7-1 to Germany.
It is quite rare for sitting monarchs to come through the area. Queen Ann of Romania attended the dedication of the Liberty Memorial. which is where Kansas City is holding its World Cup FanFest. in the 1920s. King Gustav XVI of Sweden made a stop in the small Kansas town of Lindsborg when he was passing through the Midwest in the 1970s.
Netherlands Curaçao King Willem-Alexander Queen Maxima World Cup Kansas City Houston Group F Ronald Koeman Tunisia Sweden Ecuador
So the king just showed up and everyone’s like yay? Kinda wild but also kind of cool.
Wait Curaçao is like part of the Netherlands??? I thought it was its own thing. Also 7-1 to Germany is brutal.
I read that as they flew to Kansas City to watch the Netherlands, but then it’s Curaçao? Like which one is actually “the Dutch” team lol. Either way orange scarves are iconic.
The article says they switched scarves to blue ones, and I’m like… is that really what makes it personal? Also FanFest in Kansas City is tied to the Liberty Memorial? My brain is mixing that up with the Sweden stuff.