Sweden supporters march from Helix Park toward NRG Stadium ahead of the Swedish national team’s FIFA World Cup match against the Netherlands in Houston on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle
From left, Emma Fredriksson, 30, Jasper Anderson, 29, and Lukas Johansson, 30, gather with Sweden supporters to march from Helix Park toward NRG Stadium ahead of the Swedish national team’s FIFA World Cup match against the Netherlands in Houston on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle
Sweden supporters march from Helix Park toward NRG Stadium ahead of the Swedish national team’s FIFA World Cup match against the Netherlands in Houston on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle
Sweden supporters march from Helix Park toward NRG Stadium ahead of the Swedish national team’s FIFA World Cup match against the Netherlands in Houston on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle
Sweden supporters march from Helix Park toward NRG Stadium ahead of the Swedish national team’s FIFA World Cup match against the Netherlands in Houston on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle
Sweden supporters march from Helix Park toward NRG Stadium ahead of the Swedish national team’s FIFA World Cup match against the Netherlands in Houston on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle
Sweden supporters march from Helix Park toward NRG Stadium ahead of the Swedish national team’s FIFA World Cup match against the Netherlands in Houston on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle
Wilma Gustafsson, 25, poses for a portrait before joining a Sweden fan march from Helix Park to NRG Stadium ahead of the Swedish national team’s FIFA World Cup match against the Netherlands in Houston on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle
From left, Ellen Andreasson, 14, Vince Andreasson, 10, Kenny Andreasson, 43, and Åsa Andreasson, 43, pose for a portrait before joining a Sweden fan march from Helix Park to NRG Stadium ahead of the Swedish national team’s FIFA World Cup match against the Netherlands in Houston on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle
Julie Myers, 29, and Chase Myers, 27, pose for a portrait before joining a Sweden fan march from Helix Park to NRG Stadium ahead of the Swedish national team’s FIFA World Cup match against the Netherlands in Houston on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle
Frans Blomqvist, 12, is photographed before joining a Sweden fan march from Helix Park to NRG Stadium ahead of the Swedish national team’s FIFA World Cup match against the Netherlands in Houston on Saturday, June 20, 2026.
Raquel Natalicchio/Houston Chronicle
Thousands of Swedish fans marched through the muggy Houston streets Saturday morning ahead of their team’s World Cup match against the Netherlands, donning yellow and blue jerseys, midsummer-style flower crowns and flags from their home country.
As they made their way to Houston Stadium, they wore cowboy hats and handed flags to onlookers.
The fans, many getting into Houston just the day before the match, came to watch Sweden take on the Netherlands in the FIFA World Cup. Some said it was their first time visiting Texas and that was somewhat of a culture shock. Other travelers said they followed the Swedish soccer team religiously, voyaging across the world for the Swedes.
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ALSO READ: Around 20,000 fans march to Houston’s NRG Stadium for Netherlands v. Sweden World Cup match
Malim Forss has been to every Swedish National Team game since 2006. This is her third FIFA World Cup, and not her first time in Texas.
“I was here in Houston in 1998,” Forss said. “Then I went to NASA and Galveston Island. It’s very beautiful, and you’re very friendly here. You arranged it very well. We are very happy.”
Sweden’s next match is against Japan at Dallas Stadium on Thursday, and Forss said that while she’s there, she hopes to make it to Fort Worth.
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“It should be a cowboy town, and we got the cowboy hats, so it will be fun,” Forss said.
On Friday, Swedes brought a taste of their culture to the city. Approximately 600 Swedes packed the soccer pub Pitch 25 to celebrate Midsummer, a holiday for the summer solstice where participants traditionally wear flower crowns, dance around a maypole and eat Swedish food.
Many Swedish fans had a list of classic Houston-area activities planned, including visiting NASA. Some planned to venture to other Texas cities, such as Austin and Dallas, after the game.
For those new to Texas, one big change was the Houston weather. Summers in Sweden typically see highs of 77 degrees Fahrenheit.
“I ran in the morning yesterday,” Markus Eriksson said. “It’s very hot, very wet, but I like it.”
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A heat advisory continued through Saturday, and to bear the weather during the fan march, Swedish fans pressed cold water bottles and ice cubes to their faces. Fire trucks sprayed water for fans to run through and metro buses sat along the march route for people to get some air conditioning.
“It’s a nice city. It’s a little bit cold,” Leo Hagberg said, jokingly. “No, no, it’s the opposite.”
LIVE UPDATES: Netherlands, led by Brobbey and Gakpo, wins 5-1 vs. Sweden in Houston World Cup match
While they brought their Swedish pride with them, the fans traded meatballs, lingonberry jam and Scandinavian spirits for a breakfast of brisket and Texas beers.
Wilma Hök said she enjoyed the steak she ate yesterday. Simon Viklund and Sebastian Helge said they have become fans of Chipotle since arriving in Texas.
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Swedish fans also found there might be some truth to the saying “everything is bigger in Texas,” and said they appreciated the city’s hospitality.
“It seems like a nice city,” Sebastian Helge said. “All the people we have met have been really nice and kind to us.”