Cardiff, Wales – A bizarre incident unfolded during Monday's World Cup qualifier between Wales and Belgium at Cardiff City Stadium, as a rat invaded the pitch, causing a brief delay in the match. The unexpected interruption occurred in the second half, with Belgium leading 2-1.

The appearance of the rodent near goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois caused a stir among players and fans alike. Courtois even made an attempt to catch the rat, but the agile creature evaded capture. Wales forward Brennan Johnson then joined the chase, eventually ushering the rat off the field along the sidelines to the cheers of the crowd.

The match had already been paused due to an injury to a Belgian player, before the rat made its appearance. With the game paused, cameras panned across the stadium, eventually spotting the rat on the pitch. The referee was unable to restart the game until the rodent had vacated the playing surface.

Social media quickly erupted with humorous reactions to the incident. One user commented, "The rat was the best part of this game imo (in my opinion)," while another made a pun referencing Welsh defender Joe Rodon, who scored earlier in the match. The video of the rat's pitch invasion has gone viral, turning the unusual moment into a unique and memorable event.

Interestingly, reports indicate that a cat had also made an appearance earlier in the match, sprinting along the sidelines. Despite the unusual delays, the match continued, with Belgium securing a 4-2 victory. This win puts Belgium at the top of Group J in the European qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup. Wales had been in a good position in their World Cup Qualifying group, with just one point separating the top three places including themselves, Belgium, and North Macedonia. The night got even better for the Dragons, who found themselves 1-0 up after less than 10 minutes.