The obvious competition for the Netherlands on Saturday is the ambitious United States team who is hoping to advance to the quarterfinals by beating the eighth-ranked soccer team in the world.
But another rival is coming from within the country. The game conflicts with shopping and celebrations for the Dec. 5 holiday Sinterklaas, the Dutch version of St. Nicholas Day that includes a night of opening gifts and eating candy.
For one, an event to watch the game on big screens with thousands of people in the Johan Cruyff Arena, the Amsterdam stadium where Ajax plays, has been canceled because of lack of enthusiasm, according to organizers.