The Belgium versus Senegal match was called to an abrupt halt after three pitch invaders ran out causing havoc.
Three men ran onto the pitch shortly after the first hydration break, prompting referee Said Martínez to pause the game.
Security at Seattle Stadium then rushed onto the pitch in an attempt to deal with the three men but catching them didn't appear to be as easy as it sounds, with one man having around five security guards chasing him before he was eventually caught and removed from the stadium.
At the time of the interruption Senegal was leading Belgium 1-0 after a goal by Habib Diarra in the 25th minute.
Speaking during ITV's commentary, main commentator Sam Matterface said: "We've got a social media prank which is going to cause a halt in play, and it is quite a dangerous situation because there are three or four young gentlemen who have decided to encroach on the pitch.
They have been wrestled now, two of the three have. The third has evaded security staff, who are trying desperately to get hold of him. And eventually the protesters are removed."
He then added: "It has created yet another interruption. We haven't had too many of those at the World Cup. We had several didn't we at the Euros a couple of years ago, people coming on desperate to get selfies with big-name players."
Footage broadcast on ITV cut away from the on-pitch chaos and instead showed the players watching from the sidelines.
As you might imagine, the incident quickly went viral online with many questioning how they’d managed it.
One said: “Pitch invaders at the World Cup.
“How do they even get that close in a match this big?
“Security clearly still has some gaps to fix.”
Another asked: "First pitch invaders I’ve seen at this World Cup. Was security a bit too relaxed today?"
As yet, it’s not known who the pitch invaders were or what they were hoping to promote but several eagle-eyed social media users noted that one was wearing a t-shirt promoting a cryptocurrency casino.
Aside from the drama caused by the pitch invasion, there was plenty to keep fans on the edge of their seats during the game.
The match looked to be all sewn up for Senegal after securing a two goal lead, but Belgium fought back managing to score two of their own, meaning it was 2-2 by the end of the game.
At the time of writing, half an hour of extra time had been added onto the game thanks to Belgium's comeback.
Speaking on the BBC, Ian Wright said: "It's the most unlikely comeback I've ever seen, I didn't see that coming.
"Belgium found something and got themselves going.
"That's knockout football."
The winning team of tonight's game will go on to play either the USA or Bosnia and Herzegovina in their next match on 16 or 17 July.
The USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina fixture gets underway later tonight with the co-hosts currently favourites to win.
Two YouTubers are facing felony charges after allegedly attempting to sneak Portugal versus Colombia World Cup match in Miami.
Argentina content creators Beni Marmol, 20, and Pato Perotta, 26, arrived at the Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens on Saturday, without tickets.
However, they were able to make their way through ‘three layers of security’ using expired credentials and made it into the ground, Miami-Dade Sheriffs told WPLG.
When questioned by cops, Marmol reportedly admitted that he was an influencer hoping to ‘stream the game’, while Perotta claimed that he had been ‘hired by a media company to review the event and has credentials but they were from a previous event’, according to his arrest report.
Both men were arrested on charges of interference with a sporting or entertainment event, which has a maximum sentence of up to five years in prison as well as a fine of up to $5,000.
The YouTubers, who each have thousands of followers, were held at a local jail on a bond of $2,500.
Their manager Walter Costabel told Todo Noticias that the pair ‘are fine’ and have posted bail for their release.
He told the outlet ‘they’re not being deported’ but added: “They simply cannot be near the stadiums where the World Cup matches are being played.”
According to the Sheriff’s Office, a total of 16 people were arrested at the stadium on Saturday.
The 2026 World Cup has sparked plenty of big talking points both on and off the pitch.
We’ve seen the usual dramatic upsets, colourful fans and sensational stories, like Tunisia's manager being sacked after just one game, as well as new rules, like the highly controversial enforced hydration breaks.
Nonetheless, it seems the USA has caught a case of football fever and is already considering hosting another World Cup tournament in the next 12 years.
While the next few years are locked in when it comes to host countries, the North America could hold the event again in 2038.
Andrew Giuliani, executive director of the White House Task Force on the World Cup is highly confident the US is capable of hosting the tournament again very soon. Even if it ends up being even bigger.
He said: "This is what I've spoken about with President Trump, with so many of our cabinet secretaries, I think there's no better country that's positioned to host a World Cup than the United States, and I think we're seeing that on social media.
"I think we're seeing that with all the fans that may be interacting with the US for the first time, or the first time in a long time, that the US truly is extremely welcoming, that we have such an incredible infrastructure.
"We have the stadiums built, so for the US, compared to other host nations, where it costs tens and tens of billions of dollars, you know, it cost us a couple billion.
"When you think that this World Cup may at some point expand out to 64 teams, I think the United States can handle it.
"Canada's first-ever World Cup win was marred by a horrific injury to star midfielder Ismael Kone last night.
The co-hosts were looking to break their duck at the iconic football tournament and did so in emphatic fashion, thrashing Qatar 6-0 to all but secure their spot in the knockout rounds, having drawn 1-1 against Bosnia and Herzegovina in their opener.
Jesse Marsch's World Cup side were already 3-0 up and cruising against the 10 men of Qatar when disaster struck however, as Ismael Kone was fouled by Qatar’s Assim Madibo close to the dugout, with Marsch saying everyone on the bench 'could hear the bone snap'.
According to the Mirror, a Canadian backrooms staff member told the referee: "His leg's hanging off. It's a f**king broken leg over there."
Madibo, who was visibly upset, was sent off for the challenge to reduce the opposition to nine men, and Kone was sadly stretchered off and taken to hospital with a suspected broken leg.
Marsch said: “I haven’t spoken to Ismael yet, he’s at the hospital, he will prepare for a surgery. I’m going to see him after this press conference.
“We’ll see exactly what we decide to do for him. His family is with him at the hospital. It happened right in front of the bench – everyone could hear the bone snap.
“Your heart goes out to him, and everybody’s a little shaken by the experience, because of the nature of the injury and also because Ismael is a big part of the team.
The emotional match saw Marsch in tears at the second-half hydration break. When Nathan Saliba, Kone's replacement, scored a fourth goal for Canada, he held up his teammate's shirt during his celebrations.
The game ended in ugly scenes, as players from both teams scuffled at full-time.
As they jostled, Marsch was seen in a furious confrontation with his Qatari counterpart Julen Lopetegui, which ended in him throwing his hands in the air and storming off.
After the match, Marsch said of Kone: "He will be back stronger than ever and he will continue to have a great career.
“I said at the water break that he would want us to finish this game - and that is what the guys did."
He made it clear that Madibo had apologised and he clearly felt terrible that his tackle had led to such a severe injury.
Marsch added: “Let me be clear, the player apologised to Ismael, came into the dressing room and apologised to him and Ismael told the team that had happened. So I don’t think that he meant such a gruesome tackle or gruesome situation.
“But I don’t understand a reaction from their entire bench to try to start a fight about it being a red card when a clear foul just happened that broke a player’s leg.”
Jonathan David's hattrick alongside goals from Cyle Larin, Nathan Saliba and an own goal from Mohammed Manai helped Canada to the hugely impressive 6-0 win, although sadly Kone's injury will take some of the shine away from such a joyous day in Canadian sporting history.
Marsch concluded: “No Canadian will forget this day. There’ll be 40 million people that said they were here, and it’s an incredibly seminal moment for everyone to understand that there’s talent in this country, that there’s mentality, that there’s desire, that there’s a lot of things that make this country special.”
The Iranian national team has yet again left a hand written note in the dressing room after their final group game against Egypt.
Iran drew 1-1 in their third World Cup match after a VAR decision ruled out a Shojae Khalilzadeh goal at the very end.
It means Egypt finishes second in the group while Iran now have to wait for at least one of three results between Algeria, Croatia and Congo DR to go their way to qualify for the knockout stage.
Belgium, meanwhile, thumped New Zealand 5-1 to go top of Group G on goal difference.
Now, due to the ongoing conflict with the US, Iran has been forced to return to their training camp in Tijuana, Mexico, immediately after matches.
And on the day of the Egypt game on Friday night (26 June), the US fired radar, drone and missile sites in response to what Donald Trump called a ‘foolish’ ceasefire violation by Iran on Thursday.
After the match, the national team left a heartfelt note in their locker room, which read: “We come from IRAN…
“From a land that, for thousands of years has placed honor above victory.
“For us, football is not only a competition for results, it is a test of character.
“Perhaps points can be won in many ways, but respect cannot.
“Perhaps a team can advance from a group, but only through fairess and honor can one stand tall before history.
“Fair play is not just a line in football’s rules, it is the soul of the game.
“Thank you Seattle for your hospitality. And thank you to all Iranians…
“Who gave their hearts, their voices, and their whole being for Iran. IRAN, always standing tall.”
It comes after Iran’s other note following their second group game against Belgium, ending 0-0.
The note, released by the Iranian Football Federation and widely shared on social media, begins by referencing the nation's long history, reading: "From the ancient Persia of thousands of years ago to the civilised Iran of today, the spirit of Iran remains alive and steadfast.
'We came to Los Angeles with pride, competed with honour, and leave with dignity," the note continued. "Thank you Los Angeles for your hospitality.
"And thank you to every Iranian who gave their heart, voice and soul for Iran throughout these 180 minutes.
"May peace, respect and friendship prevail among all nations."
Featured Image Credit: Al Sermeno/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images
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