Do you know what the strangest moment of the 2026 World Cup was? You’re probably thinking of a goal, a red card, or a referee’s call. I’m sorry to disappoint you, but it was actually a stolen watch!
Credits: BBC
During the match between Paraguay and Turkey, midfielder Matías Galarza found himself at the center of a surreal incident that went viral within a few hours.
Toward the end of the first half, in the heat of the moment, the referee dropped his watch on the field. Galarza noticed it immediately, picked it up, and instead of handing it over right away decided to wear it on his wrist for a few moments.
Credits: BBC
The cameras capture everything, and the video immediately goes viral. The incident occurs during a match already marked by Galarza’s own performance; he scored the decisive goal just 63 seconds into the game, a goal that currently stands as the fastest goal of the 2026 World Cup.
On social media, the gesture sparked thousands of reactions, memes, and comments, turning the Paraguay-Turkey match into one of the most talked-about games in recent hours.
Credits: BBC
Beyond its curious nature, the scene was also striking for its symbolic significance: in soccer, the referee’s watch represents absolute control over playing time, one of the most important tools in managing the game.
Seeing it end up, even if only for a few seconds, on a player’s wrist was enough to create one of the most powerful images of this World Cup. And in a tournament where every detail can go viral, Matías Galarza’s “watch moment” has already secured its place among the most viral moments of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
(The images shown are the property of the BBC and are used in accordance with the right to report news, with no intention of infringing copyright.)
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