A fan attempting to invade the pitch during the USA’s World Cup opener against Paraguay was tackled by security before he ever made it onto the field, in scenes that drew mockery from fellow spectators and led one outlet to brand him “quite possibly the worst streaker in the history of sports.”
The incident unfolded towards the end of the match at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, where a near-full crowd of around 70,000 had watched the United States cruise to a 4-1 victory over Paraguay, with goals including an own goal, a double from Folarin Balogun and a fine trivela finish from Giovanni Reyna under manager Mauricio Pochettino.
As the celebrations continued, one spectator dressed in black and clutching a red and white ball climbed over the glass barrier at the edge of the stand and began running back and forth along a platform, clearly preparing to jump. Dozens of security staff on the pitch, more than two metres below, immediately spotted him and tracked his movements. When he eventually leapt feet-first towards the pitch, multiple security personnel converged within a second and pinned him down before he could go any further.
The reaction from the crowd was unsparing. Beer and cups rained down from the stands as fans expressed their disapproval. “You f****** idiot,” shouted one supporter who was streaming the incident. “You f****** idiot.” Another roared: “You dumb***. What the f***!” Barstool Sports described the man as “quite possibly the worst streaker in the history of sports,” noting he was, at best, a pitch invader who never actually made it to the pitch.
The episode underscores the heightened vigilance FIFA and stadium security will be maintaining throughout the tournament around pitch invaders. While most such incidents are harmless attempts to grab attention or get close to a favourite player, the potential for more serious incidents remains a genuine concern for organisers. One of the most notorious examples in sport came in 1993, when tennis star Monica Seles was stabbed by a deranged fan of rival Steffi Graf during a match in Hamburg, an attack that kept her off the tour for two years. Other incidents have caused significant disruption to play without posing physical danger, such as when climate activist Louis McKechnie tied himself to a goalpost during a 2022 Premier League match between Everton and Newcastle, requiring around eight minutes and heavy-duty bolt cutters to free him.
Security around individual players has also become a notable feature of the modern game. Lionel Messi’s bodyguard, Yassine Cheuko, has become widely known for repeatedly intercepting fans attempting to reach the Argentinian during his matches for Inter Miami, with his combination of size, pace and mixed martial arts background making him an effective shield around one of football’s biggest stars.
