Curious in the World Cup playoff: referee injured and left the field in tears
The intercontinental playoff between Jamaica and the Democratic Republic of Congo left a scene as unexpected as it was viral: Argentine referee Facundo Tello could not finish the match and left the field in tears after suffering an apparent muscle injury in extra time, a consequence of the enormous physical wear and tear demanded by an intense contest from start to finish.
TL;DR
- Referee Facundo Tello sustained an apparent muscle injury during extra time of the intercontinental playoff between Jamaica and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
- Tello had to be substituted by the fourth official, Darío Herrera, due to the injury, which occurred after over 110 minutes of intense play.
- Axel Tuanzebe scored the winning goal for the Democratic Republic of Congo in the 100th minute.
- This victory marks the Democratic Republic of Congo's second World Cup qualification in history.
- The Democratic Republic of Congo will compete in Group K alongside Colombia, Portugal, and Uzbekistan in the 2026 World Cup.