KSHB 41 reporter Rachel Henderson covers neighborhoods in Wyandotte and Leavenworth counties. Share your story idea with Rachel.
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Netherlands fans packed Kansas City's FIFA Fan Fest ahead of Thursday's match, turning the city orange with jerseys, dyed hair and a festive atmosphere that drew fans from all backgrounds together.
For most Netherlands fans, the party started well before dark.
Many made their way to Fan Fest shortly after arriving in the city.
"I just arrived one hour ago, so the only thing I saw was my apartment, which was nice," one fan said.
The city itself made a strong impression on visitors.
"Great city. Great, great city. Way better than downtown LA, I'll tell you that," a fan said.
Orange jerseys were a common sight, but some fans took their team spirit a step further.
"Buzzed it, bleached it, dyed it orange," another fan said.
Matthew's family represented both their Dutch and Mexican heritage at the event.
"My husband is Mexican, and that's why he's in the Mexican jersey, and this is our son, and he's got the orange hair,” said Caroline Vanoosterom, Matthew’s mom.
The mix of cultures and fan bases was something that stood out to one Dutch fan.
"You cannot party together with your opponent. With soccer like this, it's possible," a Dutch fan said.
His friend, who is also Dutch, echoed his sentiment.
"When you enter the fan festival, you see all the different jerseys and everybody's fine with each other, and it's just for fun and for soccer. So yeah, that's amazing," another Dutch fan said.
Fans are inviting others to join the Orange Walk on Thursday morning starting at 9:30 a.m. in the Power and Light District.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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