An unusual event marked the final minutes of the match between the United States and Australia at the 2026 World Cup. German referee Felix Zwayer suffered a severe cramp and fell on the grass, requiring assistance on the field of play.
The action occurred during second-half stoppage time, when the United States was heading for a 2-0 victory that allowed it to secure its qualification for the next round.
Given the situation, footballers from both teams immediately came to help the judge. American striker Folarin Balogun and Australian midfielder Aiden O’Neill were among the first to come forward to help him while he received treatment.
Zwayer stopped suddenly and lay on the grass due to muscle discomfort.
Players came to his aid
The situation provoked an immediate reaction from the footballers of both teams. American forward Folarin Balogun and Australian midfielder Aiden O’Neill were the first to come forward to assist the referee, helping him stretch the affected leg.
During the attention, the fourth referee, the Mexican Katia Itzel García, entered the field of play, who gave him a drink to recover, while the actions remained stopped for a few minutes.
“We’ve covered a lot of tournaments and attended a lot of games, but I’m not sure we’ve ever seen a referee with cramps before,” said former footballer and analyst Danny Murphy during the BBC broadcast.
“We’ve covered a lot of tournaments and attended a lot of games, but I’m not sure we’ve ever seen a referee with cramps before,” said former footballer and analyst Danny Murphy during the BBC broadcast.
Ovation in Seattle
The weather conditions recorded during the match, with temperatures close to 26 degrees Celsius, could have influenced the physical wear and tear of both the players and the refereeing team.
After receiving assistance, Zwayer rejoined and was able to finish the match without any major inconveniences. His return was greeted with applause from the fans present in the stadium, before signaling the end of the match between the United States and Australia.