KC "breathes soccer": Dutch journalists on first impressions
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The Dutch take the field in Riverside. Photo: Travis Meier/Axios
Kansas City has better World Cup energy than New York, according to Dutch sports journalists Sjoerd Mossou and Etienne Verhoeff.
Why it matters: With the Dutch team's arrival and matches fast approaching, foreign press — and soon fans — are experiencing KC for the first time.
Driving the news: The Netherlands hosted a community practice session at the KC Current Training Facility in Riverside on Wednesday.
- Teal stands were awash with orange fans — nearly 1,700 Riverside residents applied for 120 available free seats.
- Other attendees included KC Current supporters, international reporters, KC Mayor Quinton Lucas and Riverside Mayor Kathy Rose.
What they're saying: "We were really surprised by all the love for football" here, Sjoerd told Axios. "When you arrive at the airport, it's all about the World Cup."
- He said they came from New York, where the focus is on basketball. "Here, it actually breathes soccer."
Barbecue: Verhoeff said they went to Jack Stack BBQ because the Argentinian team was there.
- "Really good, only your clothes smell so bad," he said. "Next morning, you wake up, you think, 'Oh, what's that smell?' That's the barbecue."
Stadium: Mossou said they already visited KC's World Cup stadium: "I really like the stadium, because it feels like an old school NFL stadium."
- "They shouldn't close that stadium," he said about the Chiefs' move to Kansas.
What's next: Fan Fest opens Thursday as the World Cup kicks off.
- The Netherlands plays in KC against Tunisia on June 25.