New Delhi: During the opening match of the FIFA World Cup 2026, football fans at the packed Mexico City Stadium were divided. The moment had nothing to do with the three red cards that dominated Mexico v South Africa.Instead, it was the South African players’ surprised reactions after the VAR announcement that stole the show – a reaction that reminded many Indian fans of Vibhu Suryavanshi’s viral reaction during the Emerging Teams Asia Cup match against Pakistan.The announcement of VAR took the players by surprise.The opening match of the World Cup was full of drama. Mexico beat South Africa 2-0 in a heated contest that saw three players sent off – Sphephelo Sithole and Themba Zwane for South Africa, and Cesar Montes for Mexico.But the Internet found a different hero.The turning point came in the 84th minute when referee Wilton Sampaio was asked to review the incident involving Zwane and Mexico’s Roberto Alvarado. After consulting VAR, the Brazilian referee turned on the stadium’s microphone to explain his decision to the crowd, part of FIFA’s initiative to improve transparency around video reviews.However, the explanation left everyone even more confused.Television commentators struggled to make sense of the announcement, fans online admitted they didn’t understand what was being said, and even the players on the pitch looked completely bewildered.The cameras quickly focused on South African defender Khalisu Mudau, whose confused stare at the referee instantly went viral. Social media users flooded the internet with memes, with one fan writing: “His facial expressions are killing me.”Another joked: “He didn’t understand a single thing the referee was saying.”Vaibhav Suryavanshi connectionFor Indian cricket fans, the scene brought back memories of a similar viral moment involving teenage batting sensation Vibhu Suryavanshi.A controversial umpiring decision during India’s Emerging Teams Asia Cup match against Pakistan sparked a heated debate between Indian players and officials.Pakistan A’s innings was in the 10th over in which Suyash Sharma was bowling. Moaz Sadaqat attempted a big shot on the first ball of the over and Naman Dhir completed the catch. Believing that the batsman had been dismissed, the Indian players started celebrating before the decision.Captain Jitesh Sharma led the conversation with the umpire, while cameras panned on 14-year-old Vaibhav standing nearby.Same look, different gameThe youngster’s innocent and completely confused expression soon became one of the most shared photos of the match. Fans turned the reaction into memes, praising the young man’s clear vision as he tried to make sense of the chaos around him.Like Madao’s bemused gaze in Mexico, Vaibhav’s expression perfectly captured the thoughts of fans watching from home: “What’s really going on here?”
