Arizona: Mexico midfielder Mateo Chavez was sent off during a match against the United States after striking American player Sebastian Berhalter in the face with both hands, prompting the referee to show him a straight red card.
The incident occurred in the 67th minute of the match. Chavez’s unexpected reaction immediately resulted in his dismissal, leaving Mexico to continue the game with 10 players.
Mexico were unable to recover after going down to 10 men and eventually suffered a 3-0 defeat against the United States.
this is sending me bc wth was he actually thinking 😭😭😭😭😭😭 https://t.co/irHE9lcnU9
— ًًً (@_captainpulisic) October 4, 2026
The US started strongly and took the lead in the first half through Julian Hall. Seventeen-year-old Cavan Sullivan then doubled the advantage, becoming the youngest player to score for the US men’s national team.
Chavez’s unusual dismissal followed shortly afterward, before Malik Tillman added a third goal to complete a convincing victory for the United States.
The incident involving Chavez quickly went viral on social media, with football fans expressing surprise and amusement over the unusual nature of the confrontation.
For Mexico, the match proved to be a disappointing night, while Chavez’s bizarre red card became one of the most talked-about moments of the game.
