Morocco and Netherlands Fans Celebrate in Mexico as Amsterdam Prepares for Possible Riots

As the 2026 World Cup Round of 32 begins, fans of Morocco and the Netherlands are already celebrating in Monterrey, Mexico, where the two teams will face off. The city is filled with supporters from both sides, with viral videos showing celebrations featuring fireworks and singing. The Dutch fans, known as the "Orange Army," have been partying throughout the night.

Meanwhile, in the Netherlands, especially in Amsterdam where there is a large Moroccan-Dutch community estimated at around 420,000 people, authorities are preparing for potential unrest regardless of the match outcome. This caution stems from previous incidents during the last World Cup when Morocco reached the semifinals, which triggered riots in several European countries including the Netherlands.

The upcoming match is highly significant for both teams. Morocco aims to replicate or improve upon its historic semifinal run in the previous tournament, while the Netherlands, which reached the quarterfinals last time and has been a three-time finalist, including in 2010, seeks to advance further. The local police in Amsterdam are on alert for possible violence or disturbances in the streets following the game.

The game in Monterrey is the last match of the night’s Round of 32 fixtures, following games featuring Canada, Brazil, Japan, Germany, and Paraguay. The atmosphere in Mexico is festive, but European cities with large Moroccan populations remain tense ahead of the match.