For the first time since 1994, North Texas hosted a FIFA World Cup match Sunday, and the verdict from many international fans inside Dallas Stadium was clear: the wait was worth it.
A crowd of 69,285 attended the Group F match in Arlington, where the Netherlands and Japan played to a dramatic 2-2 draw, according to ESPN. But beyond the action on the pitch, the stadium itself became one of the day’s biggest talking points.
Dutch fans, many of whom arrived after an orange-clad fan march from nearby Choctaw Stadium, were visibly struck by what greeted them inside Dallas Stadium.
“That was great, really great. Truly American,” one fan from the Netherlands told FOX 4.
“What a stadium. We don’t have these kinds of stadiums in Europe,” he added.
Dallas Stadium Makes An Impression
Fans from both the Netherlands and Japan praised the atmosphere throughout the day. Many told FOX 4 the venue felt larger and louder than stadiums back home.
The players felt it, too.
Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk, who scored the opening goal in the 52nd minute, praised the venue after Japan fought back for the 2-2 draw.
“I think it was a great experience in the big stadium, good atmosphere,” van Dijk said, according to Yahoo Sports. “And, yeah, the pitch was fine.”
Coming from one of Europe’s most decorated defenders, “fine” carries some weight.
Stadium officials and FIFA’s pitch team put in extensive work to get the natural grass surface ready for tournament play. Early player feedback suggests that work paid off.
Netherlands winger Crysencio Summerville, who scored in the 64th minute, also praised the pitch, stadium, and atmosphere after the match, according to Yahoo Sports.
Japanese Fans Win Praise
The Japanese supporters, though outnumbered by the sea of Dutch orange, made their own impression.
After the final whistle, Japan fans stayed behind and cleaned the stands, collecting trash before leaving the stadium, as previously reported by The Dallas Express. The gesture, a familiar tradition among Samurai Blue supporters at World Cup matches, drew widespread praise online.
One Japanese supporter told The Dallas Express that the cleanup reflected respect for the players, other supporters, and the stadium.
Dallas’ World Cup Moment
Dallas Stadium is hosting nine World Cup matches, the most of any venue in the tournament, including five group-stage games and a semifinal on July 14.
North Texas is also home to the tournament’s International Broadcast Center at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center and a 34-day FIFA Fan Festival at Fair Park.
With England facing Croatia on Wednesday and Argentina set to make its Dallas debut June 22 against Austria, the stadium’s biggest moments are still ahead.
If Sunday was any indication, the world is watching North Texas and liking what it sees.
The Dallas Express will report directly from World Cup matches throughout the week.
