World Cup sparks Dutch fan celebrations and a women‑only watch party

The 2026 FIFA World Cup kickoff has prompted a wave of fan enthusiasm in the Netherlands. One media piece compiled a light‑hearted list of the tournament’s most attractive male players, highlighting Virgil van Dijk, Cody Gakpo, Theo Hernández, Achraf Hakimi, Jude Bellingham, Keito Nakamura, Enzo Fernández and Raúl Jiménez.

Former handball international Estavana Polman organized a women‑only watch party for the Netherlands vs Sweden group‑stage match, pointing out stereotypes that question female football fans’ knowledge. She emphasized that women often engage with the sport through the personal stories of players rather than pure technical analysis, and she aimed to celebrate female fan culture with friends, snacks and music.