An unexpected moment during coverage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup went viral on social media after a South Korean reporter was surprised by a Mexican fan during a live broadcast in Mexico.
The journalist was covering preparations for South Korea’s opening match against the Czech Republic when a woman approached him while he was speaking to the camera. Footage shows the fan grabbing his arm, kissing him on the cheek, and hugging him before leaving the area.
Initially caught off guard by the situation, the reporter soon smiled and responded with a relaxed “gracias” (“thank you” in Spanish), a reaction that helped turn the incident into one of the tournament’s most widely shared videos so far.
While many social media users viewed the episode as an example of the festive atmosphere surrounding the World Cup, the footage also sparked debate online.
Several users questioned whether the public reaction would have been the same if a man had kissed a female journalist during a live broadcast, raising discussions about consent and potential differences in how such situations are perceived depending on the gender of those involved.
The incident occurred on the same day South Korea defeated the Czech Republic in its World Cup opener, securing the country’s first victory in an opening World Cup match since 2010.
Dünya Kupası için Meksika’da canlı yayına bağlanan Güney Kore muhabiri, Meksikalı bir kız tarafından öpülünce kısa sürede viral oldu. pic.twitter.com/HWhVlK6yp2
— Serkan Tanyildizi (@srkntnyldz) June 11, 2026
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Photo and video: X @srkntnyldz. This content was created with the assistance of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
