The 2026 FIFA World Cup has shattered all previous records in terms of scale for the global tournament being held since 1930. The ongoing edition has already broken the records for viewership, attendance, and revenue, making it the most successful event conducted in FIFA history.
Before the group stage even ended, the 2026 World Cup broke the all-time attendance record set 22 years ago. In fact, over six million attendants at present means the tournament is on-track to double the number from USA 1994.
The World Cup is also expected to shatter the unprecedented global reach that Qatar 2022 enjoyed. By the end, the event is expected to encompass nearly three quarters of the global population, while videos on their digital platforms have already garnered over 20 billion views.
A large part of the credit for such interest around the World Cup belongs to content creators. Influencers such as Speed and Celine Dept have relentlessly travelled across North America to visit games, with independent creators included in the official FIFA broadcast ecosystem for the very first time.
However, the hype train has caused various other American YouTubers to hop on despite having little knowledge or respect for the sport. Football remains sidelined in the US with basketball, baseball, and American football taking precedence. Unsurprisingly, chaos has ensued that has left hardcore fans of the sport fuming.
The nuisance was on full display during the recent quarterfinal between England and Norway in Miami. Pipped as one of the highest-billed encounters in the tournament, the contest lived up to expectations as the Three Lions eventually prevailed 2-1 in an extra-time thriller.
However, before a ball was even kicked, a hugely disrespectful moment occurred in the streaming community.
A one-minute silence was observed ahead of the match to pay respects to the passed away South African footballer Jayden Adams. The 25-year-old had helped Bafana Bafana make the knockout stages for the very first time a few weeks ago.
While 70,000-plus people instantly fell silent upon the announcement, a group of streamers could not. Part of the collective CORE Boys, popular streamers Marlon, Lacy, and StableRonaldo showed little awareness of the gesture as they continued trying to provide commentary over the solemn occasion.
Even after Marlon explained the context and asked his peers to stay shut, Lacy and StableRonaldo paid no heed to the advice. The crowd around them responded in kind with a few choice abuses.
Ironically, the trio could not help but be in awe of how the whole stadium fell silent, further underlining their lack of understanding for the footballing culture at large.
Marlon, Lacy, and StableRonaldo were stunned when all 73,000 fans went completely silent to honor the tragic passing of South African footballer Jayden Adams ❤️🩹 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/BO8cGFUbvc
— Chip 🍪 (@ChipGotIt_) July 11, 2026
“They couldn’t bother to be quiet during the moment of silence. Streamer brain rot in a nutshell”, criticism flooded in on X.
“So they know everyone is silent to honour someone passing away yet continue to talk? Who gave these clowns a platform”, replied another.
“When will FIFA figure out that football doesn’t need streamers. Ban them from stadiums and let everyone else enjoy the game,” an X user posited.
If the fans thought that was the worst of streamers from the match, they were grossly disappointed shortly after.
Another famous creator PlaqueBoyMax was kicked out from the stands during the game for getting into an altercation with fellow fans.
Imagine paying thousands for your ticket to watch your country play in a world cup quarter-final and this clown is sitting behind you.
— Alex Linardos (@alex_linardos) July 12, 2026
There's a certain etiquette in football that most Americans don't quite understand yet. pic.twitter.com/Qb6eXyhZiM
The incident was sparked by the 23-year-old streamer and hip-hop record producer screaming abuse at the players at the top of his voice. Wearing a Norway shirt, at one point PlaqueBoyMax heavily chastised a player for failing to get his act right.
“You goofy ass n*, you’re shooting at the other side of the room,” he screamed followed by a creepy laugh and loud clapping.
When the antics caught the attention of those around him, the creator immediately doubled down.
“You all gonna hate me”, he repeated while making exaggerated faces.
Plaqueboymax was KICKED OUT by FIFA security after getting into an altercation with a fan at the England vs Norway World Cup match pic.twitter.com/oa0TrMFNI4
— clip 🛸 (@clippedszn) July 11, 2026
When the audience member in front of him remarked how annoying PlaqueBoyMax’s behaviour was, the steamer only got more animated.
Before long, the crowd around him had started chanting against him in Spanish. Yet, such was the creator’s idiocy that he began dancing to the tune without realizing it was targeted against him.
“Imagine paying thousands for your ticket to watch your country play in a world cup quarter-final and this clown is sitting behind you. There’s a certain etiquette in football that most Americans don’t quite understand yet,” a user on X remarked regarding the incident.
Eventually, FIFA security personnel removed the streamer and his fellow associates from their seats, much to the fans’ reprieve.
With the World Cup now in its business end, fans will be hopeful no such creators ruin their experience of the tournament. Spain will take on France in the first semi-final, with the winner set to meet the victor of Argentina–England in the summit clash.
