What to know about the Netherlands and Sweden fan marches
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The Oranje Fanwalk in Dallas before last Sunday's Netherlands-Japan match. Photo: Tom Fox/The Dallas Morning News via Getty Images
Seas of orange and yellow will take over Houston for the Netherlands vs. Sweden noon World Cup match at Houston Stadium on Saturday.
Why it matters: These fans don't mess around. Supporters of both teams turn their pre-game marches into a spectacle.
- The Houston host committee expects more than 2,000 fans at each march.
The Netherlands: The Oranje Fanwalk is expected to be drenched in orange as supporters march 2.5 miles from Rice Stadium to Houston Stadium, starting 8:45am.
- Fans will be led by the iconic orange bus, which was shipped across the Atlantic for the tournament.
- Live entertainment starts at 8am at Rice Stadium.
Sweden: Sweden supporters in yellow will hold their own pregame march beginning at 8am from Helix Park in the Texas Medical Center to the stadium, about 2 miles.
By the numbers: The Netherlands (No. 8 in FIFA's rankings) had a draw with Japan 2-2 on Sunday. Sweden (ranked 35) defeated Tunisia 5-1 in its opener.
What we're watching: It'll be cloudy and hot after Tropical Storm Arthur moves past the Houston area, with heat indexes of up to 115 degrees Friday and Saturday, per the National Weather Service.
- But whatever the weather, it likely won't deter the fans in the morning.
The bottom line: Be prepared for overzealous excitement (along with road closures and traffic).