Professional footballer Johan Kappelhof devoted to America: “Positivity is a relief”

The contrast in temperature is not great between Amsterdam and Salt Lake City: cold and bleak. “But there has just been a snow storm here,” says Kappelhof, who has lived in the United States for seven years now. He landed at Chicago Fire in 2016 and has been playing at Real Salt Lake since last year and notices a clear difference with the Netherlands. “Analysts and fans are much more positive here.”

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“The interviews afterwards or the headlines are very different. In the Netherlands there is always a ‘but’ if the result is good. You will never see a fan blowing his own player here. I think they realize what athletes have to do done to reach this level,” says Kappelhof, who grew up in the Bijlmer and ended up in Ajax’s youth academy at the age of eight. However, there was no breakthrough in the first. “Most people have played a sport in secondary school, high school or university. At school they already get that awareness of top sport. They are just very supportive. When I came here to play, it was a real relief.”

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Kappelhof notices that the Americans are more ‘highlighting’ the good things. According to him, that also helps the national team at the World Cup. “They are proud of the boys and the young guests. The mood is good and they also believe that they have a good chance against the Netherlands. I have also heard that America would rather play against the Netherlands than against Senegal. Then they can play from the play underdog position on the counter.”

Popularity is increasing

In recent years, football has been on the rise in America. “Seven years ago I sometimes played in American Football stadiums with poor artificial turf. Now most teams have their own stadium with top quality grass. It changes quickly.” Kappelhof is increasingly playing in new stadiums and has noticed that its popularity is increasing. In 2026, the United States will host the World Cup together with Canada and Mexico. “The young generation is choosing football more and more than for the typical American sports.”

Kappelhof has high hopes for the meeting between the Netherlands and the United States. “I think it will be a closed game, but that the Netherlands will win,” says Kappelhof, who has to set the alarm early. In Salt Lake City, the game starts at eight o’clock in the morning. “Unfortunately I don’t have an Orange shirt here,” says the five-time international of the Dutch Juniors. “I think America is a bit disappointing in the attack, but with Tyler Adams and Christian Pulisic they have very good players. The Netherlands is very dominant, so they will dictate the game.”

The game between the Netherlands and the US in the eighth final of the World Cup is this afternoon at 4 p.m.