Torn socks, bleeding feet, but teammates prevented medical staff from entering the field: Why did the Belgian team become victims of the new rules for the 2026 World Cup?
One of the strangest moments since the start of the 2026 World Cup occurred during the 0-0 draw between Belgium and Iran. Leandro Trossard’s calf was torn by a stud, ripping through his sock, but his teammates prevented the medical team from entering the field due to a new FIFA rule.
The incident happened at the beginning of the second half of the Belgium vs. Iran match in the second round of the 2026 World Cup group stage on the morning of June 22nd. Trossard fell to the ground in pain, his body trembling from a collision. Slow-motion footage later showed the studs of the Iranian player’s boots scraping along the Belgian midfielder’s calf, creating a large tear in his sock.
A photo circulating on social media shows Trossard sitting on the field with a grimace. The black sock on his left leg is torn, revealing the torn and bleeding skin. Meanwhile, several Belgian players stood around talking to the referee instead of calling medical staff onto the field.
This detail sparked a major debate on social media. Many popular football accounts suggested that the Belgian players deliberately delayed medical access to Trossard because they feared he would have to leave the field temporarily under FIFA’s new regulations. If medical staff were allowed onto the field for treatment, the player might have to leave for a short period before being allowed back into play. This would result in the team being short of players.
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However, to date, neither FIFA nor the Belgian team has officially confirmed that this was the reason for the incident. What has been confirmed is that Trossard’s calf was severely lacerated by a stud, tearing his sock and leaving him in considerable pain. Despite this, the 31-year-old midfielder eventually got up and continued playing.
This moment quickly captured the attention of fans because it revealed another side of the 2026 World Cup, where changes in the rules are creating situations never before seen in previous tournaments.
For Trossard, he probably felt the harsh reality more acutely. Just one collision, his sock ripped, his calf bleeding, and the entire stadium holding its breath to see if he could continue playing.
