US EditionA Rat Briefly Delays World Cup Qualifier Between Wales and Belgium
The match was briefly delayed as Brennan Johnson chased a rat off the pitch during a tense World Cup qualifier where Belgium led 4-2, securing Group J's top spot.
- On Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, the Wales v Belgium World Cup European Qualifying match at Cardiff City Stadium was briefly halted after a rat scurried onto the pitch.
- Joe Rodon had given Wales an early lead before Belgium national football team scored twice prior to half time and led 2-1 in the 66th minute when the referee stopped play.
- After a failed attempt by a Belgian player to catch it, substitute Brennan Johnson chased and escorted the rat off the pitch toward a touchline camera operator as players waited.
- The result leaves Wales' qualification hopes weakened as Belgium national football team won 4-2, taking the lead of Group J in qualifying for the 2026 World Cup.
- Fans and X users reacted with astonishment and humour, sharing disbelief and puns while Welsh fans found levity in the rat pause during a tough match.
19 Articles
19 Articles
Sydney Morning Herald
Rat stops play in World Cup qualifier
Play was briefly delayed in a World Cup qualifier between Wales and Belgium after a rat entered the field.
The Belgian team won 4-2 to Wales as a visitor by the sixth date of the European World Cup 2026 qualifiers, took hold at the tip of the J group and already smelled the maximum competition of countries, however, the match was stopped for a few minutes for an unusual reason: a rat entered the field and ran through the middle of the players. Archer Thibaut Courtois tried to grab the rodent with the gloves but could not and, finally, striker Brennan…
It was in the second time in Cardiff. The truncated attempts of the footballers to catch the rodent
During the second half of the World Cup qualifier between Wales and Belgium, there was a brief delay when a rat ran across the pitch.
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