During the 2026 Federation Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) North and Central America World Cup, the broadcast team made a baffling blunder, missing a decisive moment of the match while showing global pop star Shakira.
The incident happened on the 10th during the World Cup quarterfinal between France and Morocco at Boston Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Around the 40th minute of the first half, when play was briefly stopped, the broadcast camera showed Shakira watching from the VIP seats. But even after the match resumed, the shot stayed on Shakira for a while.
In the meantime, Morocco's Brahim Diaz made a sharp drive at the French back line, and France defender Jules Kounde barely cleared the ball in a crucial moment.
But that sequence was completely missing from the live broadcast. Viewers had to keep watching Shakira's face even as the match unfolded at a frantic pace.
John Strong, a commentator for U.S. rightsholder Fox (FOX), said, "It seems like the broadcast team didn't realize for a while that play had restarted," reacting with surprise.
Overseas outlets highlighted the broadcast mishap, calling Shakira the "World Cup goddess" who even stopped the flow of the match.
Shakira is a pop star who left a strong impression on soccer fans worldwide by singing the official 2010 South Africa World Cup anthem "Waka Waka."
At this North and Central America World Cup, she also took the stage at the opening ceremony, delivering a dynamic performance that lavishly marked the start of the tournament.