The excitement of the World Cup has a special triple twist this year for Dutch King Willem-Alexander. As monarch of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, he is uniquely positioned to support not just one, but three teams in the tournament: the Netherlands, Curaçao, and, by marriage, Argentina.

This World Cup marks a historic moment as Curaçao makes its debut at football’s premier event. With a modest population of 158,000, the island nation is stepping onto the global stage, representing a proud chapter in its history. Curaçao, located just north of Venezuela, was a pivotal trade hub under the Dutch West India Company and later a part of the Netherlands Antilles until it became an autonomous country within the Kingdom of the Netherlands in 2010.

The island’s football journey accelerated when it joined FIFA in 2011, adopting the FIFA membership previously held by the Netherlands Antilles. Today, Curaçao faces Germany in Houston in what promises to be a memorable match for the Caribbean nation.

King Willem-Alexander, who continues to serve as Curaçao’s head of state, must also keep a familial allegiance to Argentina. His wife, Queen Máxima, hails from Argentina, a country with its own profound World Cup legacy. The couple’s three daughters, who are half-Argentine and bilingual, add another layer of intrigue to the royal family’s football loyalties, especially given the intense matches between the Netherlands and Argentina in past World Cups.

A spokesperson for the Dutch royal family confirmed that the royal trio will be attending some of the games to show their support. "King Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima, and Princess Ariane will be traveling to Houston and Kansas to cheer on the football teams of the Netherlands and Curaçao when they play against respectively Sweden and Ecuador," said the spokesperson.

As the matches unfold, the beverages of choice in the royal box could range from Dutch Heineken, to Curaçao liqueur, to Argentine Malbec, depending on the outcomes. It’s a rare and festive convergence of national pride and personal connections for the Dutch king, who will no doubt be hoping for celebratory occasions for each of his three teams. Whether his summer will be marked by celebratory toasts or consolatory drinks remains to be seen, but it will certainly not be short of excitement and international camaraderie.