2026 World Cup: Some People Root for Multiple National Teams… and Not Just for Convenience: Here’s Why

The Dutch royal family is experiencing a decidedly unique World Cup: for King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima, and Princess Ariane, the 2026 tournament is, in fact, a unique opportunity to support two different national teams, both of which are linked to the Kingdom’s history and current politics. On Saturday, in the span of just a few hours, the royals first watched the Netherlands defeat Sweden and then witnessed Curaçao’s historic draw against Ecuador, pulling off a true sporting tour de force that made headlines in the international media.

At noon local time, the royal family was in the stands at the Houston stadium to cheer on the Oranje, who secured a decisive 5–1 victory over Sweden. This brilliant result made everyone forget the 89th-minute draw against Japan and thrilled the monarch, his consort, and their youngest daughter (born in 2007, third in line to the throne after her older sisters Caterina Amalia and Alexia).

After the match, a flight of about 1,300 kilometers took the Dutch royals to Kansas City, where they witnessed Curaçao’s first-ever World Cup point, as the team held Ecuador to a 0–0 draw thanks in part to the saves of an inspired Eloy Room. The royal family’s presence, however, was by no means coincidental: Curaçao is, in fact, part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands as a constituent country, and it comes as no surprise that, after the match, the royals celebrated with the team right in the locker room.

“It’s a special World Cup because we have both the Netherlands and Curaçao,” Willem-Alexander told RTL-TV. “We have two teams to root for, and I hope both go very far.” The royal family, incidentally, shares its roots with another prestigious national team, Argentina’s: Queen Máxima was born and raised in Buenos Aires and has already made it known that she intends to watch the Albiceleste’s match against Austria, scheduled for Monday at 1 p.m. local time in Arlington.