A Canadian fan accidentally tossed her phone while doing the wave in Canada’s 1-0 win over South Africa on Sunday.
Fans around SoFi Stadium started the wave multiple times in the 2026 World Cup’s first knockout-stage game due to long stretches of slow play from both teams.
During one of them, a woman wearing a black Canada jersey accidentally dropped her phone while throwing her hands up, and it tumbled over the glass railing in front of her.
The woman quickly put her hands over her mouth and stared in disbelief in a now-viral moment.
The phone throwing was one of the more entertaining events of the game, which YouTuber Mark Goldbridge described as “possibly the worst World Cup game ever.”
South Africa controlled possession with 58% but didn’t do much with it, generating only six shots, two of which were on target, and 0.14 expected goals.
“We lost the game because there was a lack of power and speed in our team when I compare that with our opponent,” South Africa manager Hugo Broos said. “We lost a lot of duels, men against men and the speed in our team – not only the running speed but also the speed of execution.”
Canada had a little more success creating big chances but missed four and needed a 22-yard strike from Stephen Eustáquio to take the lead.
Regardless of the outcome, the knockout stage match made history for both countries as the first of its kind.
Canada will now take on the winner of the Netherlands-Morocco match, in a match they will likely be severe underdogs in.
“In general, my goal in this tournament – apart from inspiring our nation – was to make a run so that we could get to see one of the giants of the world,” Canada’s manager Jesse Marsch.”… Now we’re at that phase of the tournament and I feel like it’s a free hit and we’re going to go after it and do everything we can to see if we can find a way to get a win.”
