The Netherlands fan guide to the 2026 World Cup
Where the Oranje play, the route through Dallas, Houston, and Kansas City, the heat, ESTA rules for Dutch fans, and how to plan the whole trip.
The Oranje travel well, and 2026 sends them on a tidy United States route through the south and the midwest. It is one country, three cities, and one big group-stage meeting with a fellow European side, which makes it one of the more plannable trips in the tournament.
Where the Netherlands play in the group
All three group games are in the United States, which keeps the entry rules simple. Here is the real schedule.
vs Japan
DallasSun, Jun 143:00 PM
AT&T Stadium
vs Sweden
HoustonSat, Jun 2012:00 PM
NRG Stadium
vs Tunisia
Kansas CityThu, Jun 256:00 PM
Arrowhead Stadium
The middle game against Sweden is a group decider in waiting, and Swedish fans are following the same Texas route from the other direction, so expect a lively Houston.
Following the Netherlands city to city
One country, three cities, no border to worry about. Here is the route the planner builds, with the real distances between stops.
- 1Dallas1 match376 km / 234 miHouston
- 2Houston1 match1045 km / 649 miKansas City
- 3Kansas City1 match
- If they win the groupMonterreyMon, Jun 29
- Finish second, or sneak through as a best third, and the picture shifts. The full projected path, every outcome, is part of the planner.
Knockout venues depend on the final group table. Build your trip to see your full projected path and lock cities as results come in.
Knockout cities are projections from the group draw and will shift with the final table. The winner and runner-up paths point to different places, so check both before booking.
How hot will it be
Texas in June is warm, but several of the stadiums on this route are air-conditioned, which caps the in-stadium heat read. These are sober estimates from the venue climate and roof type, not a live forecast.
- DallasSun, Jun 14Climate-controlled36°C / 97°F
Climate-controlled stadium, comfortable inside.
What to bring: The seating bowl is air-conditioned, Bring water for the walk and queues outside.
- HoustonSat, Jun 20Climate-controlled32°C / 89°F
Climate-controlled stadium, comfortable inside.
What to bring: The seating bowl is air-conditioned, Bring water for the walk and queues outside.
- Kansas CityThu, Jun 25Mild heat30°C / 85°F
Comfortable conditions expected.
What to bring: Water to stay hydrated, Sun protection for daytime matches.
Estimates from June/July climate normals per venue, not a live forecast. Indoor or air-conditioned stadiums read cooler.
The heat is more of a factor in the fan zones and getting to the ground than in your seat, so plan the daytime around the shade and hydration.
Do Dutch fans need a visa or an ESTA
All three group games are in the United States, so a Dutch passport needs an approved ESTA but no visa. The detail below comes from the official program list, dated and sourced.
ESTA for the USA
ESTAYour Netherlands passport is visa-exempt, so you will need an approved ESTA to fly to the USA. Apply before you travel and carry the confirmation. Confirm on the official site.
Entry rules change. Always confirm on the official source before you travel.
Buying tickets without getting scammed
A clean single-country trip can still be derailed by a fake ticket. Watch for lookalike sites, requests to pay by bank transfer, and prices that are too good to be true. None of those proves a scam on its own, but together they are your cue to stop.
Not sure a ticket is real?
Run the offer through the free fraud checker. It walks you through the red flags in seconds. No signup, nothing leaves your browser.
Check a ticketPlan your Oranje trip in five minutes
The fixtures are the easy part. Ordering the cities, leaving buffer days, reading the Texas heat, and laying out the ESTA in one view is where the planner earns its keep. It is free, and your itinerary appears before any signup.
Frequently asked questions
- Where do the Netherlands play their group games?
- The Netherlands open against Japan in Dallas, then face Sweden in Houston, and Tunisia in Kansas City. The fixtures, dates, and local kickoff times are listed above.
- Do Dutch fans need a visa for the 2026 World Cup?
- Dutch passport holders are visa-exempt for the USA but need an approved ESTA before they fly. The Netherlands play all three group games in the United States, so an ESTA covers the group stage. Confirm on the official US government site before you travel.
- Is it going to be hot in Texas for the Oranje games?
- Dallas and Houston are warm in June, though several stadiums there are air-conditioned, which keeps the in-stadium heat read lower. The heat section above rates each match from the venue climate and roof, so you know what to expect.