Dutch super fan visits KC and describes World Cup energy
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We want those glasses. Photo: Travis Meier/Axios
The World Cup is "going to make the Super Bowl look like your local beach volleyball event," according to the Oranje Suit Man.
Why it matters: The Netherlands will be on Kansas City's doorstep in less than two months, with the team base camping in Riverside and a group stage match scheduled against Tunisia.
- We met Daniel Oordt, one of the Dutch team's biggest fans, at International Tap House downtown to talk soccer, heartbreak and what locals can expect from the "Oranje Army."
The big picture: Imagine a sea of orange. That's what Oordt says to expect from 10,000 Dutch fans parading through the city, following him and the team's famous orange bus with songs and chants.
- "What Kansas City can expect is something they've never seen before," he tells Axios.
Zoom in: The Netherlands is ranked No. 7 and finished as a quarterfinalist at the last World Cup.
- The team plays Tunisia on June 25 in Kansas City.
Context: "De man in het oranje pak," which translates to "The man in the orange suit," or Orange Suit Man, is one of the Dutch team's most voracious and well-traveled fans.
- Oordt currently lives in Scottsdale, but he was born and raised in the Netherlands and has gone to every team match since 2015 — thanks to his job as a pilot.
What he's saying: "The rivalry in the international stage is so deep," he says, adding that the pressure is especially high for the World Cup because it's only every four years.
- "Generational trauma" is how he described his love for the team, recounting multiple high-profile losses as far back as the 1970s.
Travis' thought bubble: That sounded to me a lot like the heartbreak KC fans felt for so long — with Chiefs fans going 50 years without a Super Bowl victory until 2020, and Royals fans 30 years without a World Series title until 2015.
What's next: The Dutch team is expected to arrive in KC on June 9, the Kansas City Star reports.
- "Everything, everywhere is going to be soccer," Oordt says.
Go deeper: How the World Cup could give KC a long-term boost