Today at 08:00 • Updated today at 08:12
The players of the Dutch national team landed in Kansas City on Tuesday evening, where they will stay during the World Cup. The team will immediately receive a warm welcome from the Dutch Club of Kansas City during a training match on Wednesday. This group of emigrated Dutch people provides a touch of orange in the city.
Among them is 59-year-old Michel Michiels, born and raised in Eindhoven. He emigrated to America 25 years ago after he met his American wife. In Kansas he joined the Dutch Club of Kansas City. “There are about thirty Dutch people, plus supporters,” he says. “Everyone lives in Kansas City or in the region. The World Cup is a great opportunity to get together more often.”
The World Cup starts for the Dutch club on Wednesday. The Dutch team will then play a training match at the training complex of the American women’s football club Kansas City Current. “We go there with a group,” says Michel. “On Sunday we will watch the first group match against Japan together in a bar nearby. There are of course more people there than just Dutch people, and the atmosphere is always very good.”
“Very beautiful and special that I can see this live, I will probably never experience that again.”
Michel has not extensively decorated his house in orange. “But the Dutch flag will still go up,” he promises. “And of course we also wear our orange clothing during the matches.” He is amazed by the Dutch products he now encounters in the supermarket. “Cheese and stew, you hardly ever have that here. Also nice: a brewery in the city serves special orange beer during the World Cup. That will all be on the menu in the coming days.”
A little cheer for team USA? That is not possible with Michel. “Team USA is not highly regarded by me,” he laughs. “Although I have lived in America for 25 years, I am still Dutch. Although my Dutch is not improving.”
The Dutch team’s last group match will be played on June 26 in the Kansas City stadium, and Michel will of course be there. “It’s very nice and special that I can see them live, I will probably never experience that again. The Arrowhead Stadium is normally used for American football and has now been transformed into a football field. It can accommodate more than 75,000 people.”
“It’s just a shame that so few PSV players are involved.”
According to him, there is one disadvantage: the heat. “It is over 30 degrees, but the feeling temperature is around 40 degrees. It is very stuffy. The stadium here is not covered, so it gets very hot. The players are not used to that either.” But with enough water and a light orange shirt, everything should be fine in the stands, he thinks.
He’s confident anyway. “I think it will be a nice tournament for the Dutch team. They will go far. It’s just a shame that so few PSV players are participating,” he concludes with a laugh.