The Netherlands defeated Sweden 5-1 in the 2026 FIFA World Cup Group F match on Saturday, a victory celebrated by the Dutch Kurdish community in the Kurdistan Region at Le Daff Restaurant in Ankawa.

The Netherlands’ Deputy Consul General Bertrille Snoeijer told Kurdistan Chronicle during the match that not many people in the Netherlands would think that you can watch a match in Erbil with so many people dressed in orange. “We have quite a lot of Dutch Kurds living here in Erbil, and apparently a lot of them are interested in football,” she said.

According to estimates, there are around 6,000 to 10,000 Dutch Kurds in the Kurdistan Region.

“It’s so great to have this atmosphere where a lot of people all dressed in orange are supporting the Dutch team,” she said, adding that the Dutch team was doing well. “Let’s hope it continues like that.”

“It was very enjoyable and truly wonderful, and the Kurdish community enjoys watching the Dutch national football team,” Shakhawan Karim Akoi, a Karate Do Federation of the Netherlands and World Karate Federation referee, told Kurdistan Chronicle. Akoi has lived in the Netherlands since 1996. 

“Dutch Kurds also consider the Netherlands to be one of the best teams. The 2026 World Cup should belong to the Oranje if we have a bit of luck. It’s my dream that they become the champions.”

In a post on X on June 10, the Consulate General of the Netherlands in Erbil said that for the first time in history, two teams of the Kingdom of the Netherlands will join the upcoming World Cup: Netherlands and Curaçao, an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands.

The Consulate General was officially inaugurated on October 12, 2009, and has been very active in the fields of agriculture, water, and politics.

Deputy Consul General Snoeijer said the large presence of Dutch Kurds is always helpful to the Consulate. “We try to communicate as much as possible no matter which topic we are talking about, whether it’s agriculture, whether it’s water, whether it’s politics, anywhere. You find Dutch Kurds anywhere here.”

The Netherlands has never won the FIFA World Cup, holding the record as the country to reach the most tournament finals (three) without winning the trophy.

The New York Times wrote that the Dutch win against Sweden is an “important step forward for the Netherlands,” and a reminder that they should not be ignored in the World Cup as World Cup contenders.

“So let’s see what will happen, if we get to the finals. There is always hope, you should never lose hope,” Deputy Consul General Snoeijer said.