Published on 6/17/2026
Foxboro/Boston Stadium in the United States witnessed a remarkable incident between the two halves of the Iraq-Norway match, after one of the lawn irrigation sprinklers suffered a sudden technical malfunction, causing heavy water to flow at a specific point on the field, during the confrontation that took place at dawn today, Wednesday, as part of the 2026 World Cup competitions.
Video clips published by activists and sports platforms showed water rushing with force and intensity at a specific point on the field as a result of this technical malfunction, causing temporary confusion in the field preparation operations before the start of the second half.
The clips also documented that a number of stadium workers and maintenance teams quickly intervened to control the situation, as they were able to shut off the water source and remove excess water.
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According to the American newspaper “Providence Journal”, the technical defect occurred specifically in the penalty area for the Iraqi national team, which prompted the maintenance crews to mobilize and run quickly to dry the “pool of water” before the start of the second half.
She pointed out that controlling the situation required stopping the entire stadium’s irrigation system, which forced the two teams to play the second half on a completely dry surface, which is unusual in World Cup stadiums that are regularly irrigated to increase the speed of the ball.
It is noteworthy that the management of Boston Stadium recently converted the field from artificial turf to natural grass in compliance with the requirements of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA).
Despite the confusion caused by the flow of water, the maintenance crews succeeded in completing their task quickly, so that the players moved to the field on the exact time specified without any delay in the start of the second half, amid a blackout from the official television broadcast of the match, which did not address the incident.
The “Lions of Mesopotamia” began their journey in the 2026 World Cup with a heavy loss to Norway, 4-1, in the ninth group competitions, which also includes France and Senegal.
