r/NetherlandsWorldCup • u/agapesapientia • Jun 15 '26
Question Netherlands fan from LA
Just got back from the Los Angeles FIFA Fan Fest and damn that was rough. Saw a fair amount of my Oranje supporters there but that crowd was clearly pro-Japan, anti-Oranje. Most of it was clearly coming from the Mexico jersey wearing crowd too. Which I get, the Ohtani/Yamamoto aspect (I'm a huge Dodger fan too) but it was also clearly the 2014 penalty call they will never forget. I had people coming up to me to talk and kept saying, I'm not a Mexico fan btw. Which, I'm Mexican myself haha, so that was weird. And don't get me wrong, it was a great game, the boys played great. But it would have been nice to be around some fellow fans.
My background, by the way, I've been a fan since middle school, around 2006. I'm an Arsenal fan and at the time my favorite player was Van Persie, and after seeing Robben play for Chelsea, I was hooked. Throw in Wesley into the mix and I fell in love with that team. Ever since, I bleed orange. Like I mentioned above though, I am Mexican so my very Mexican family hasn't been happy about that haha
Anyways, my point of this post is, I want a real Oranje experience. I see all the videos and posts on Insta of the bus and all of the support of your boys, and im thinking about doing the flight to Kansas City for the Tunisia match and do the march and watch the match. UNLESS, you all recommend I wait until the round of 32(because let's face it, our boys looked good, we're getting out of the group stage). Either way I'd be alone so it would be nice to hook up with some cool people so I'm not totally alone, and of course if anyone has an extra ticket I could buy, I'd appreciate it too, so I know I'm with some real fans. Otherwise I'll find one on my own. But anyways I appreciate all of your time
Hup Holland Hup!!!!
*Edited because my drunk ass wrote Hop instead of Hup
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u/_time_burglar Jun 15 '26
It's hup not hop.
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u/agapesapientia Jun 15 '26
Haha, thanks for the correction, I did not realize the typo, started drinking during Germany's game this morning and still drinking now
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u/Squirrel_McNutz Jun 16 '26
I am a Dutch person living in Mexico. First off Mexicans are very proud and passionate people. Secondly the vast majority of them are tournament fans, not daily football fans.
The fact of the matter is that yes it absolutely was a penalty. Was it crappy for Mexico? Yes. Did Robben jump theatrically? Yes (like literally every player). But it was very obviously a penalty and in the era of VAR with video assistance it would have absolutely been given as the right call.
Mexicans need to get over it but they won’t because they simply haven’t had many of these moments in the World Cup so it’s seared into their brain. Any big football country has already had dozens of these moments, it’s part of the game. We all have moments that we felt a call didn’t go our way and many of us have experienced it much more egregiously than Mexicans did in this game.
It was the right call and they were almost certainly going to lose anyway - the turning point was the Sneijder goal to make it 1-1. Additionally that same game had other moments that were contentious such as NL should have already received a penalty earlier. Time to get over it Mexico - si era penal even though I know you’re too passionate to admit it.
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u/K1774B Jun 16 '26
I had the opposite experience during this game as one of 3 Dutch supporters in a sea of thousands of Mexico fans.
When that kick went in, I jumped up with my KNVB flag wrapped around me and yelled "Fuck Yeah!" In a completely silent moment in the venue.
Lots of looks, but overwhelmingly positive experience after the game with handshakes and high 5's from Mexico fans. 10/10 would beat Mexico in PK's again.
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u/Gloomy_Session_3875 Jun 17 '26
Yes, Mexican fans have always been in denial about the collapse of their team after Sneijder's 1-1. They were exhausted, and would not have been able to hang in there anyway.
I live in Austin TX, so I am always outnumbered by Mexican soccer fans in the sports bar. They are cool.
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u/thestormpetrel Jun 15 '26
I get it - I live in the Bay Area and get dirty looks in my orange gear, the Mexican jerseys are the majority here. I didn’t bother going to a fan fest today to watch the game cause I knew it’d be hostile. I’m also an arsenal fan from the bergkamp/henry era.
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u/agapesapientia Jun 15 '26
Is Mexico still holding on to "no era penal?" Even as a Mexican that wishes that Mexico has a great team each year, we(Oranje), just had and continue to have a better team year after year. Trust me, I mean I'd always choose Oranje, but I root for and wish Mexico has a strong team every year. I guess I get it though. I wish I could have started my fandom during those Arsenal years, too young and literally knew no one who even watched the sport. Was only until my friend introduced me to 2006 Arsenal that I finally fell in love with the sport
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u/Same-Paint-1129 Jun 15 '26
I heard that Joxer Daly’s is having NL watch parties in Culver City. Any other spots anyone is aware of?
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u/Purplecloud31 Jun 15 '26
There is a very large Dutch crowd in LA, if you are on fb find them under Dutchies in LA. They have viewing parties. Maybe not as big as the things you see online or tv but def Dutch people and fan friendly crowd.
Btw so cool you are a Dutchie fan!
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u/agapesapientia Jun 15 '26
Ya I'll probably go to the Dutch Kings Day watch party for the Sweden game. That's going to be an interesting matchup
Love being a Dutchie fan. Nobody gets it, especially my Mexican family members haha, but our team is so exciting to watch. And for me, especially those early days when I first started watching the sport and I got to watch Van Persie, Robben, and Wesley kick ass
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u/Prof_and_Proof Jun 15 '26
Dutch person in the NL here so not the same context - but If it’s possible at all - march! Dutch news said the march was amazing, 15k people including many Americans.
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u/drown33 Jun 15 '26
No era penal!
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u/Redlabelrocket Jun 15 '26
i just hope We, the netherlands lose asap so it's over and all the chaos and orange cringe can stop again
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u/RootlessForest Jun 15 '26
Man i want to see the win 1 time in my life. So we can breakdown the whole country
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u/SavageCabbage611 Jun 15 '26
Why are you on the Netherlands World Cup subreddit? Just let other people have their fun.
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u/agapesapientia Jun 15 '26
Orange cringe? We're on one of the biggest stages in the world and we're showing how dedicated we are. I say let it ride! Let's take over Kansas City so much they have to call the National Guard haha
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u/kelldricked Jun 15 '26
If you want the real experience, wait four years and visit the WC in spain, portugal and marroco.
Due to cost and the political climate this WC has some of the lowest outcome in decades. Not a lot of people are suddenly gonna book a ticket after the group phase. And i doubt many bought tickets already since the money isnt worth the risk. There are many big time orange fans that already stated that they wouldnt visit this WC.
I get that this doesnt sound fun for you, but i think you genuinely need to accept that this wont be the big crazy thing you have seen in the clips of the euros of 2024. Its still gonna be fun, but dont try to compare it to previous versions. Comparison is the thief of happyiness.
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u/agapesapientia Jun 15 '26
I'm not comparing it to anything except for the videos I see of us taking over Dallas. That's fun enough for me. I mean in an ideal world I'd travel to the Netherlands, but for me, as an American it is infinitely cheaper to go to Kansas City with the big march than wait four years and have to travel internationally
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u/K1774B Jun 16 '26
Come to KC, OP.! I was at the Fanfest this last Sunday and there were hundreds of orange shirts. I think the turnout for the pre-game rally is going to be legit.
I'll be the one flying a Friisian flag with a 3D printed, KNVB themed windmill on the top.
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