Referee collapses with cramps on World Cup debut in USA-AUS match
3 min readJun 20, 2026 10:57 AM IST Before the Socceroos, down went World Cup debutant Felix Zwayer. The heat and the raucous atmosphere were already too much for Australia to take in at the Seattle Stadium on Friday afternoon against the host United States. Their misery knew no bounds when German referee Zwayer collapsed to the pitch with searing pain, extending the wait for the final whistle. Down 0-2 entering the six-minute stoppage time, Australia were made to wait as the 45-year-old referee dropped to the ground with a sharp bout of cramps affecting his legs. ALSO READ | Teams don’t put jerseys or flags on Stallone’s Rocky Statue, it’s about a curse “Oh here we go. I’ve seen it all now. The referee’s cramping,” former Australian right-back Luke Wilkshire said on comms. “That’s the first time I’ve seen a player help a referee in that way,” chimed broadcaster David Basheer. Basheer referred to the immediate scenes when Zwayer was being helped on Socceroos star Aiden O’Neill who stretched out the cramps. 🚨 | …








