This September, Lithuania will host one of the world’s most iconic football teams, the Netherlands national team. The intimidating “Oranje”, coached by Ronald Koeman, will face Lithuania on September 7 at the Darius and Girėnas Stadium in Kaunas. With interest already surging, the match is shaping up to be historic both on and off the pitch.
Ticket Sales Kick Off with High Demand and Long Waits
The Lithuanian Football Federation (LFF) launched ticket sales at 3 PM on Thursday for two upcoming home matches: against Malta on September 4 and the Netherlands on September 7. The clash with the Dutch immediately drew massive attention.
Within moments of going live, the ticketing platform struggled to handle the influx of fans, many of whom faced virtual queues of up to 30 minutes. Still, the excitement proved too strong to deter supporters, and tickets began selling rapidly.
According to the Lithuanian news portal 15min, nearly 24 hours after sales began, around 5,500 tickets remained. Approximately 3,000 seats have been reserved for visiting Dutch fans, meaning over 6,000 tickets have already been snapped up by Lithuanian supporters. If this pace continues, the match could become one of the most attended football games in Lithuania’s history.
A chance to set new attendance records
Currently, the highest recorded attendance for a Lithuania national team match dates back nearly three decades, when around 15,000 fans packed Vilnius’ former Žalgiris Stadium to watch a European Championship qualifier against Italy. Lithuania, led by coach Benjaminas Zelkevičius, narrowly lost 0:1 to the then-world vice-champions.
The modern Darius and Girėnas Stadium already holds three of the top four attendance records for Lithuanian football. In 2022, 14,230 fans watched Lithuania play Bulgaria in the first official match at the renovated venue. Subsequent matches against Montenegro and Finland drew 11,238 and 10,421 spectators, respectively. These are the only four instances in Lithuanian football history where a home match drew a five-figure crowd.
Lithuania’s World Cup qualifying journey
In their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying group, Lithuania competes against the Netherlands, Malta, Finland, and Poland. After two matches, Lithuania has earned one point: a 0:1 away loss to Poland and a 2:2 home draw with Finland.
The Netherlands have yet to play in this qualifying cycle, having competed in the UEFA Nations League quarterfinals in March. There, they lost to reigning European champions Spain in a penalty shootout.
Under Ronald Koeman’s guidance, the Dutch reached the semifinals of last year’s European Championship. At the 2022 FIFA World Cup, they were eliminated in the quarterfinals (again via penalties) by eventual champions Argentina.
A star-studded Dutch lineup heads to Kaunas
The Netherlands’ roster boasts some of the biggest names in world football. Set to arrive in Kaunas are Liverpool stars Virgil van Dijk and Cody Gakpo, Barcelona midfielder Frenkie de Jong, Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt, RB Leipzig’s rising talent Xavi Simons, and experienced forward Memphis Depay, who now plays for Corinthians in Brazil.
With such world-class talent on display and unprecedented fan interest, the stage is set for a spectacular night of football in Kaunas. And if the current ticket sales are any indication, the atmosphere will be electric from the first whistle to the final minute.
Source : https://www.15min.lt/sportas/naujiena/futbolas/ar-kris-rekordas-sluojami-bilietai-i-nyderlandu-rinktines-vizita-lietuvoje-24-2434358
