Royals Back Two Nations
Dutch Royals Show Support for Netherlands and Curaçao During World Cup Matches
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King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima pulled double duty at the World Cup on Saturday — first cheering the Netherlands to a 5-1 win over Sweden in Houston, then flying to Kansas City to watch Curaçao face Ecuador, according to AP News. The royal couple swapped their orange scarves for blue ones to back both of their teams.
The Netherlands and Curaçao are both part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, making the monarchs heads of state for each squad. Princess Ariane joined her parents in Kansas City for the Curaçao match, The Telegraph reported.
Netherlands Rout Sweden 5-1 in Houston Opener
The Dutch started the day on a high note. The Netherlands beat Sweden 5-1, giving the team a strong footing in group play, according to AP News. Willem-Alexander and Máxima cheered from the stands in orange before making their way to Kansas City for the second match of the day.
The Netherlands will close out group play against Tunisia on Thursday. A solid result there could set the team up for a deep run in the tournament, Winnipeg Free Press noted.
Curaçao Makes World Cup Debut With 7-1 Loss to Germany
Curaçao is a small island in the Caribbean Sea. It is a constituent country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands — meaning it governs itself but shares a monarch with the Netherlands. This World Cup marks Curaçao's first-ever appearance at the tournament, according to LMT Online.
The debut was a tough one. Curaçao fell to Germany 7-1 in their opening match. Still, the royal couple expressed pride in the team just for making it this far. Their Kansas City appearance against Ecuador showed the monarchy's support for the island nation on the world stage.
Royals Swap Orange for Blue to Back Both Sides
The color swap was a simple but striking moment. Orange is the traditional color of Dutch sport, tied to the royal House of Orange-Nassau. Blue is Curaçao's national color. The monarchs traded scarves between matches to show loyalty to both teams, Leader Telegram reported.
It is rare for a royal family to cheer for two different national teams at the same tournament. But the Kingdom of the Netherlands is unique — it includes the Netherlands, Curaçao, Aruba, and Sint Maarten, each with its own government but one shared king and queen.
Kansas City Hosts a Royal Double-Header Weekend
Kansas City served as the backdrop for the second half of the royals' World Cup day. The city is one of several U.S. venues hosting matches this tournament. Having a sitting king and queen in the stands added an unusual spotlight to Curaçao's Ecuador clash, according to Newsday.
The royals' attendance drew wide attention given the contrast in team sizes and histories. The Netherlands is a World Cup regular. Curaçao, with a population of roughly 150,000, is a first-time qualifier. Willem-Alexander and Máxima celebrated both, one scarf at a time.
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