Local authorities have officially approved road closures in Paceville to accommodate the thousands of travelling Dutch fans who are expected to fill Malta’s streets with orange ahead of Thursday’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier between Malta and the Netherlands at Ta’ Qali.
According to various sources who spoke to MaltaSport.mt, as many as 6,000 Dutch supporters could make the trip for the highly anticipated Group Phase encounter, with celebrations already underway across the island.
The festivities will begin on Wednesday evening (8 October) with a Pre-Party at Tex Mex in Paceville, hosted by NedMalta, the official Dutch community in Malta. The event will feature live music, entertainment, and authentic Oranje vibes, with a Dutch DJ flown in especially for the occasion.
To ensure safety and manage the large crowds expected, Paceville roads will be closed to traffic from 17:00 on Wednesday, reopening briefly overnight before closing again from 11:00 on Thursday morning as the area is transformed into an Official Orange Fan Zone.
The fan zone, officially endorsed by both the Malta Football Association (MFA) and the Royal Dutch Football Association (KNVB), will open at 12:00 PM on matchday, featuring big screens, live DJs, food stalls, and fan entertainment in the lead-up to the 20:45 kick-off at the National Stadium.
“We’re thrilled to see so many people coming together, not just from the Netherlands, but from all over Malta,” said Tim Jacobs, founder of NedMalta. “It’s more than a football match, it’s a celebration of friendship between Malta and the Netherlands.”
For more details on Malta vs Netherlands matchday expectations, visit MaltaSport.mt.
