At a particularly early time, 12:00 local time in Texas, the Dutch national team will kick off against Sweden on Saturday. In hot, stuffy Houston, the KNVB, among others, warns about the heat (over 30 degrees) and high humidity (80 to 85 percent). According to reports, the perceived temperature can be around 40 degrees.
A party started at eight o’clock in the morning with thousands of Orange fans at Rice University. At a quarter to nine, the supporters left in a procession to the stadium, a four-kilometre walk through Houston. The stadium, with a capacity of 68,777 spectators, is covered and air-conditioned.
There was uncertainty about the inclusion of playmaker Frenkie de Jong, after he collided with Quinten Timber (who is missing with a mild concussion) during training on Thursday. National coach Ronald Koeman said on Friday that De Jong has “mild complaints” “below his waist”. But De Jong simply starts at the base.
It is surprising that Brian Brobbey, reserve in the first game against Japan (2-2), starts at striker. This is at the expense of right winger Crysencio Summerville, who immediately scored on his World Cup debut. Donyell Malen will now start in that position in the right front, he started as a center forward against Japan.
The Orange line-up:
Goalkeeper: Bart Verbruggen
Defense: Denzel Dumfries, Jan Paul van Hecke, Virgil van Dijk, Micky van de Ven.
Midfield: Frenkie de Jong, Ryan Gravenberch, Tijjani Reijnders.
Attack: Donyell Malen, Brian Brobbey, Cody Gakpo.
Former internationals Wesley Sneijder and Edwin van der Sar and singer Yves Berendse with fans during the Orange March to the Houston Stadium.
Koen van Weel / ANP
The stadium in which the Dutch team will play tonight.
Pedro Nunes/Reuters
Fans during the orange march to the Houston Stadium.
Koen van Weel / ANP
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2026 FIFA World Cup
Frenkie de Jong starts in the starting line-up after a collision in training, striker Brian Brobbey also starts