Dutch football players are keen to bring spectators back to

Dutch football players strive to return spectators to

According to Nos.

Context

Lynn Wilms, a defender for the Netherlands national team, made her debut for the team in 2019, when the Netherlands were at the peak of their popularity. She plays a key role in the team and her experience could be an important factor in the upcoming matches. Wilms also plays in the WSL, highlighting her importance as a player on the international stage.

Why is this important

The importance of attracting spectators to the stands for the Netherlands cannot be underestimated, especially in the run-up to the knockout stages of the 2027 World Cup. Lynn Wilms emphasizes that the decline in match attendance is not only due to the team's results, but also to the general interest in women's football in the country. Success on the international stage could help restore interest in matches, which is important for the development of WSL football and the promotion of women's sports in the Netherlands.

Key takeaways

• Dutch football players are trying to get spectators back.
• Lynn Wilms and coach Arjan Weyrink stress the importance of keeping spectators in the stands as the Netherlands prepare for the knockout stages for the 2027 World Cup.
• Voetbalsters hebben naast WK nog een doel: 'Fans vermaken en naar stadion krijgen'.

In the playoffs, only one factor matters: qualifying for the 2027 World Cup in Brazil. However, the players of the Dutch national team are confident that another result can be achieved at home matches - to attract more spectators to the stadiums. Defender Lynn Wilms speaks of a "downward trend" in match attendance in recent years. The 26-year-old made her national team debut in the fall of 2019, when the Netherlands were at the peak of their popularity as reigning European champions and World Cup finalists. In those years, the stadiums were overcrowded, but as the results worsened, the number of spectators also decreased.

“It would be great if we could get more fans back into the stadiums,” says Wilms, adding that the reason lies not only in the team’s results. About 8,000 tickets have been sold for the match against Hungary today at the King Willem II Stadium in Tilburg (capacity 15,220), national team coach Arjan Weyrink said the day before the game. He emphasizes that crowd support is an important motivator for the team as it seeks to repeat the success achieved in its recent away match against Hungary, which ended 8-0 in favor of the Netherlands. “We always play to win, but in the Netherlands we want to do it in a way that is fun for the audience to watch,” adds Weyrink. "Ultimately we play football for the fans, that's the essence of the game."

The Netherlands' World Cup qualifying play-offs can be seen live on the NOS website.nl, in the NOS app and on channel NPO 3. The home match against Hungary (kick-off at 20:45) will also be broadcast live.

"We want to entertain the fans," says Wilms, who plays for Aston Villa in the English Premier League (WSL). “After the 2019 World Cup, I came into the national team when there were a lot of spectators, and that moment was really memorable. I remember very well when Danielle van de Donk played her 100th match for the national team in Eindhoven. I had just started playing, I was sitting on the bench and thought: “Wow, the whole Philips Stadium is full.”

"We've lowered the bar a little. We mostly play in smaller stadiums. Sometimes they are full, sometimes they are not,” notes Wilms. In the best years, from 2017 to 2019, stadiums were filled to 20,000 and even 30,000 seats. This year at the match against Ireland in Utrecht (capacity 23,750 seats) there were more than 10,000 empty seats. At the match with France in April there were only about 6,500 spectators in the stands, with a stadium capacity of more than 20,000 seats.

According to Wilms, the reason for this lies in the performance of the Netherlands. “We are all pleased when more spectators come to matches, but this is also associated with success. If we show good acting, I think the audience will come back,” she says.After a successful away match, the Netherlands can now look ahead to the final stage of qualifying, where they will face the winner of the Türkiye-Slovenia pairing in November and December for a place at the World Cup. The confidence in success is great. "We can be happy with how we performed on Friday. But we want to play a good game at home. For ourselves and for the fans. Not to do that would be disrespectful to the opponent."

“It’s easy for me to remain hungry for victories, I want to play the best football in every game. The team clearly understands what we want: to get to the World Cup.”

What happens next

The Netherlands national team will continue its preparations for the playoffs, and the match against Hungary will be an important step in this process. The team is expected to be looking to not only win, but also to get fans back in the stands, which could impact their performances in the future. Wilms and coach Weyrink hope that fan support will help the team succeed and increase interest in WSL clubs and women's football in general.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happened to the attendance at matches of the Dutch national team?

Attendance at matches for the Dutch national team has declined in recent years due to the team's deteriorating results.

Who confirmed the information about the sale of tickets for the match against Hungary?

Information about the sale of tickets for the match against Hungary was confirmed by national team coach Arjan Weyrink.

Why is it important to return spectators to the stands now?

The Netherlands team is keen to bring spectators back to the stands to create support and motivation for the team in the qualifying playoffs for the 2027 World Cup.

What changes are planned to attract spectators to matches?

Dutch football players, including Lynn Wilms, want to make matches more interesting and entertaining for spectators.

When will the match against Hungary take place and where can I watch it?

The match against Hungary will take place today at the King Willem II Stadium in Tilburg and can be seen live on NOS.nl and the NOS app.

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