The knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is in full swing, and we've already seen last-minute winners, an upset of epic proportions, and powerhouses regain their rhythm. That, of course, is everything happening on the pitch. But this is the World Cup - and it wouldn't be the global spectacle that it is without some sideline drama. Here's some of the things that turned our heads over the past few days. Kitastrophic clothing
The 2026 World Cup has been defined by an upswing in goals, drama and late winners. But a far more peculiar trend has crept in alongside it: torn shirts. Since the tournament kicked off, players from Czechia, Egypt, Morocco and Paraguay have all had their jerseys ripped open mid-match, with three of the four forced off the pitch to change into a replacement. However, the kits - manufactured by Puma - have reportedly been favoured by players. Feedback has shown they prefer the lighter feel. Machine-learned security
Mexican police are sending robot dogs in first. In Guadalupe, part of the Monterrey metro area hosting four World Cup matches, local authorities have deployed four quadrupedal robot units - nicknamed the K9-X division - to scout potentially dangerous situations before human officers step in. The robots stream live video back to command centres, carry HD cameras and night vision, and can issue voice commands to crowds or suspects, all without exposing an officer first. Uruguay national team takes commercial flights home after crashing out of group stage
Uruguay's exit from the World Cup was rough enough on its own, but the team's send-off out of North America reportedly didn't go much smoother. According to Uruguayan outlets El País and broadcaster Tenfield, the Uruguayan Football Association (AUF) scrapped the squad's scheduled charter flight from their training base in Mexico back to Montevideo, leaving stars like Federico Valverde and Darwin Núñez to book commercial tickets home instead, on separate flights rather than as a unit. Commentator loses his cool and credentials all at once
Broadcaster Jorge "Chipi" Vera had a meltdown live on air when Paraguayan Miguel Almirón was shown a red card against Türkiye for covering his mouth during a confrontation with Mert Müldür - the first dismissal of its kind under a new rule introduced for this World Cup, aimed at cracking down on verbal abuse. Vera, calling the match for ABC Cardinal/ABC TV, repeatedly called referee Iván Barton a "thief," accused FIFA and president Gianni Infantino of "killing football," and held them responsible for the outcome. FIFA responded by stripping Vera of his credentials for the rest of the tournament. "HOLIDAY, DAMN IT!!"
Paraguay president Santiago Peña declared a national holiday after his country pulled off one of the biggest shocks in World Cup history, knocking out four-time champions Germany on penalties in the Round of 32. Peña couldn't contain himself on X, posting: "PARAGUAY NEVER GIVES UP! HOLIDAY, DAMN IT!!" Neighbouring Chile's president, José Antonio Kast, also tipped his hat, posting that he'd caught the "emotional" shootout and congratulating Paraguay on putting another Latin American side into the Round of 16.