Kansas City Police Department leaders say officers will be positioned downtown as thousands of Netherlands fans—known as the Orange Legion—are expected to march ahead of the national team’s Thursday match against Tunisia, rain or shine.
Rain or shine, Kansas City is bracing for a familiar kind of pregame: thousands of Netherlands fans in bright orange preparing to march downtown before Thursday’s national team match against Tunisia.
Captain Jake Becchina with the Kansas City Police Department said the department is expecting a large crowd. but is not releasing specific traffic or security plans. “I think what people should expect. what we’re expecting. is what you see in the social media videos. ” Becchina said. pointing to what has happened at similar events in other cities.
He said officers will be in the area to help keep fans. drivers. and pedestrians safe. and urged anyone joining the march to follow directions from police and event staff. “We’re going to do what we need to do to secure the event and also to ensure the safety of everybody involved in it. ” Becchina said. “That’s what we can say for sure.”.
Fans who belong to the Orange Legion are known for more than cheering inside the stadium. They turn the lead-up into a spectacle—bright orange outfits, chanting, dancing, and large pregame walks that can draw supporters far beyond the Netherlands.
Hans Van Rheenen. a Netherlands fan. said he followed the team after seeing what the walk looks like in other places. He was surprised by the scale in Houston, where he watched crowds pour toward a soccer game. “It actually blew me away — 15,000 people in Houston kind of walking to a soccer game,” Van Rheenen said. “And I think there were probably at least 15,000 inside the stadium.”.
Van Rheenen said the march in Houston wasn’t only Dutch fans. “Everybody essentially walks in the walk,” he said. “It’s not just Dutch people. There were people from Mexico. There were people from other countries. It’s really fun.”
Another Netherlands fan. Louis Helson. said he came to Kansas City after visiting Dallas and learning the Dutch team would play Tunisia. Born and raised in the Netherlands. Helson said the trip felt like a chance to experience the fan base up close. “Well, who wouldn’t want to come to Kansas City to watch the game?” Helson said.
He said he enjoyed watching fans and his grandchildren take part in the experience in Dallas. “They’re awesome,” Helson said of the Dutch fan base. “There’s nothing like it.”
Other supporters described what they believe Kansas City should expect—an overwhelming show of orange. Police said the message Tuesday night is to expect large crowds and plenty of orange.
Taken together. the reminders from police and the accounts from fans trace the same path: a big public walk drawn by the energy of the group. followed by a match that brings it all into a stadium. For Kansas City, the question isn’t whether the Orange Legion will arrive. It’s how smoothly the city can handle thousands moving as one.
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Kansas City police Orange Legion Netherlands fans march downtown Tunisia match Thursday match crowd safety Jake Becchina
Orange Legion sounds like trouble, so glad KC police are there.
They say “rain or shine” like that’s helpful? Like… how many cops? Also why don’t they just post traffic closures instead of being vague.
Wait so the police are ready but won’t release plans? That’s kinda sketchy ngl. People are gonna do what they saw in videos and then act surprised when stuff gets blocked.
15,000 people in Houston walking sounds like a parade, not a match. I bet Kansas City will be fine though, it’s just soccer fans in bright orange. Unless someone throws something and then everybody blames the wrong crowd like always, because who even knows anymore.