High-ranking visitors in the stands at the Netherlands-Sweden match in Houston on Saturday evening. King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima and Princess Ariane put on their orange scarves to cheer on the Dutch national team during the match, which was captivating from the first minute.
The royal couple and the youngest daughter took a plane to Houston on Friday. Daughters Amalia and Alexia stayed at home and watched the match with friends, family or in the pub, they said earlier.
The family chats briefly with FIFA boss Gianni Infantino, who sits next to the king, and then sings the national anthem at the top of their lungs. They also include former top goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar and former top footballer Patrick Kluivert. His son Justin Kluivert also plays for the Dutch team.
The royal couple immediately have an exciting match, because Brian Brobbey scores the first Dutch goal in the first minutes. A few minutes later he makes the second.
It is now a familiar image during sporting events: Willem-Alexander, Máxima and sometimes a daughter, cheering exuberantly in the stands and dressed in orange. Clenched fists in the air and roaring: anything to shout the Dutch athletes to victory.
It became clear at the beginning of this week that the king was looking forward to this match. During a photo opportunity with the Japanese imperial couple, some shifting had to be done. “To the left… To the left,” the king shouted jokingly, referring to the Snollebollekes party song Left Right.
Later in the day, the trio will also go to the Ecuador-Curaçao match. That match starts at 2 a.m. Dutch time.
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