Netherlands Fans Are Being Warned About Their Houston World Cup Plans
Hundreds of thousands of soccer fans from around the world are going to descend on U.S. cities to see their team compete in the FIFA World Cup this summer. But fans of the Netherlands national football team are planning to enjoy a longstanding tradition in an environment not really suited for it.
For years, fans of the Oranje have done the pregame "Oranje Fanwalk" on matchday, creating a sea of orange shirts as they march across the city to the stadium their team is playing in.
The problem is, their June 20 game against UEFA rival Sweden is going to be held in Houston at NRG Stadium - and the Oranje Fanwalk will begin at Rice University. That's a 2.5-mile walk in the heart of Texas at the height of summer.
Get the ambulances
It doesn't really take the National Weather Service to point out that walking 2.5 miles in Texas at the height of summer is hazardous to your health. The city enjoys temperatures that typically reach the 90s in that time of year, and the combination of sunlight on the asphalt with the humidity can make it feel well over 100 degrees.
So it really shouldn't be much of a surprise that Houston residents are pointing out that there should probably be a ton of ambulances and medical personnel on standby in case the Oranje fans do try to do their signature Fanwalk.
"That's 2.5 miles on a morning in June. I hope they got enough ambulances parked along the route," one user remarked on X.
"Game will be at NOON in late June ☀️ The Dutch are about to find out what "feels like 108" really means in Houston 🤣 Have EMS on standby," wrote another.
"That's 2.5 miles on blacktop through a Houston summer. Remember to bring extra water, my Oranje friends," a third wrote.
"There are going to be multiple heat strokes and it will be an international story. 2.5 mile walk in peak Houston humidity."
"In 90+ degree texas heat plus humidity? Godspeed to them man."
"Bring lots of water or beer, its gonna be HOT."
The Netherlands currently rank No. 7 in the FIFA World Ranking. At the 2022 World Cup in Qatar they reached the quarter-finals and finished fifth on the overall table.
But it's been generations since they hoisted a major trophy and they've never won the World Cup.
The Netherlands open their World Cup run in Group F against Japan on June 14 at AT&T Stadium, followed by Sweden on June 20. They finish their group stage run against Tunisia in Kansas City on June 25.
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This story was originally published May 20, 2026 at 12:50 PM.