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Kylie Graham-Imagn Images

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — If the Netherlands soccer team is playing in a city near you, beware an orange army takeover.

On game day, streets will shut down for a massive party that begins hours before kickoff, with singalongs, dancing and a fan walk behind a historic double-decker bus.

And did we mention the color orange?

There’s orange all around, as far as the eye can see, and that was the case beginning Thursday morning, more than eight hours before kickoff, when the Netherlands faced Tunisia in its final group game of the World Cup.

They gathered in the city’s Power and Light District and marched more than a mile toward the FIFA Fan Fest on the lawn of the National World War I Museum and Memorial. At one point, fans were packed in nearly the entire stretch of Grand Boulevard between the start and finish points.

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“It’s the world’s best party. It’s the world’s best fans,” said Daniel Oordt, one of the Netherlands’ superfans who has been traveling the globe for more than a decade to support his team. “An amazing time, an amazing community. It’s the best place on earth right now."

While some fans traveled from far and wide to celebrate during the fan walk, others came from a much shorter distance but were having fun all the same.

“My family is from Holland,” said Kansas City resident Ben VanDer Putten. “I support the Orange. I’ve been a Dutch fan since I was born."

VanDer Putten, who was near the front of the march with a drum and orange wig, said he expected nothing less than the thousands who were out in downtown Kansas City. “This is a typical Dutch turnout.”

The Netherlands face Tunisia at 6:00 p.m. CDT. The Dutch started their celebrations in KC at 9:00 a.m. CDT 😳 #worldcup #netherlands pic.twitter.com/sRfN0veX4x— The Sporting News (@sportingnews) June 25, 2026

What is the Orange Fanwalk? 

Dutch supporters show up by the thousands to support their team, and they’ve taken over each city the Netherlands has played in during the World Cup: Dallas, Houston and Kansas City so far..

The party begins several hours before the game, with fans gathering around an iconic double-decker bus that made its way to the United States by boat before the World Cup. At each city, the bus leads a parade with a DJ atop the bus leading the crowd in songs and chants.

Why do the Netherlands wear orange?

The Netherlands flag has three horizontal stripes, with red on the top, white in the middle and blue on the bottom. But the team is known for its orange kits, as a tribute to the royal family, the House of Orange. 

Likewise, Dutch fans are fully decked out in orange whenever they support the national team, whether in bright shirts or colorful costumes and wigs. 

That was the case on Thursday during the Netherlands' 3-1 win vs. Tunisia, when fans were vocal throughout the game, even while the rain came down in Kansas City. 

Next up: Monterrey, where the Netherlands will face Morocco in the Round of 32 on Monday. And Mexico will have to get ready for an orange wave and party bus to descend upon the city.

MORE: What are the best betting promos for the 2026 World Cup?

Benson Taylor

Benson Taylor is the Editor-in-Chief of The Sporting News. He directs SN’s global content strategy and operations. A 29-year veteran of the brand, he is dedicated to celebrating SN’s 140-year legacy while also bringing modern storytelling to sports fans. He graduated from the Missouri School of Journalism, and he lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, home of SN’s U.S. headquarters.

Source: Sporting News