{"id":5280,"date":"2026-01-20T11:20:23","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T11:20:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/world-cup-qualifier-suspended-after-sinkhole-opens-up-on-pitch\/"},"modified":"2026-01-20T11:20:23","modified_gmt":"2026-01-20T11:20:23","slug":"world-cup-qualifier-suspended-after-sinkhole-opens-up-on-pitch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/world-cup-qualifier-suspended-after-sinkhole-opens-up-on-pitch\/","title":{"rendered":"World Cup qualifier suspended after sinkhole opens up on pitch"},"content":{"rendered":"<p> <br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure class=\"style_k8mr7b-o_O-style_uhlm2\"\/>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_z4kqwb-o_O-style_1tcxgp3-o_O-style_1pinbx1-o_O-style_48hmcm\" data-mm-id=\"_slntsty30\"><strong>Play was brought to a standstill during Austria\u2019s 2026 World Cup qualifier against Cyprus after a sinkhole suddenly appeared on the pitch late in the second half.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_z4kqwb-o_O-style_1tcxgp3-o_O-style_1pinbx1-o_O-style_48hmcm\" data-mm-id=\"_4nd64husj\">The bizarre incident occurred around the 75th minute, when Danish referee Jakob Kehlet halted the match after noticing the gaping hole near Austria keeper Alexander Schlager\u2019s box at the Raiffeisen Arena, in Linz. <\/p>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_z4kqwb-o_O-style_1tcxgp3-o_O-style_1pinbx1-o_O-style_48hmcm\" data-mm-id=\"_trxdb7c06\">The opening was wide enough to swallow an entire football, prompting ground staff to rush on with buckets of sand in a frantic attempt to patch it up.<\/p>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_z4kqwb-o_O-style_1tcxgp3-o_O-style_1pinbx1-o_O-style_48hmcm\" data-mm-id=\"_6e91508z7\">After more than seven minutes of repairs, Kehlet finally gave the green light to resume, with Austria eventually sealing a 1-0 win thanks to Marcel Sabitzer\u2019s second-half penalty \u2013 scored before the ground gave way.<\/p>\n<figure data-mm-id=\"_gn4muzgd6\" class=\"style_11gw3bn-o_O-style_48hmcm\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">A section of the pitch has literally collapsed in the game between Austria &amp; Cyprus. The ground staff are running up and down with buckets of soil trying to sort the situation. Can\u2019t remember seeing anything like it! <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/OECrF5jiGk\">pic.twitter.com\/OECrF5jiGk<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Harry Symeou (@HarrySymeou) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/HarrySymeou\/status\/1964425981889855888?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">September 6, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_z4kqwb-o_O-style_1tcxgp3-o_O-style_1pinbx1-o_O-style_48hmcm\" data-mm-id=\"_8vzjtzy00\">The win means Austria are now second in Group H qualifying, having won all three of their games so far, behind also unbeaten Bosnia and Herzegovina.<\/p>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_z4kqwb-o_O-style_1tcxgp3-o_O-style_1pinbx1-o_O-style_48hmcm\" data-mm-id=\"_7g5elypli\">Remarkably, this isn\u2019t the first time Austrian football has flirted with the earth caving in. Back in 2022, a Nations League clash against Denmark, which Austria lost 2-1, at the Ernst Happel Stadium was also interrupted by a huge sinkhole opening up on the pitch.<\/p>\n<p class=\"tagStyle_z4kqwb-o_O-style_1tcxgp3-o_O-style_1pinbx1-o_O-style_48hmcm\" data-mm-id=\"_4zddtoogm\">At least this time Austria still managed to dig out the three points \u2013 though maybe someone in should be calling a geologist before the next fixture.<\/p>\n<div data-mm-id=\"_imz0xbfax\">\n<div class=\"style_1wszng\">\n<figure data-id=\"_imz0xbfax\" class=\"base_1uq72w5\" data-mm-type=\"image\"><canvas class=\"style_1e28o3x-o_O-initial_9vayoh\"\/><picture class=\"base_1emrqjj-o_O-initial_fzbddc-o_O-style_1a1csmw\"><source\/><source\/><source\/><img class=\"base_1emrqjj-o_O-initial_fzbddc-o_O-style_1a1csmw\" alt=\"Austria v Cyprus - FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier\" title=\"Austria v Cyprus - FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier\"\/><\/picture><noscript><picture class=\"base_1emrqjj\"><source srcset=\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,w_1024,h_682,x_0,y_0\/c_fill,w_360,ar_3:2,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FGettyImages%2Fmmsport%2F90min_en_international_web%2F01k4mhxsce5fvgkd5a9b.jpg 1x, https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,w_1024,h_682,x_0,y_0\/c_fill,w_720,ar_3:2,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FGettyImages%2Fmmsport%2F90min_en_international_web%2F01k4mhxsce5fvgkd5a9b.jpg 2x, https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,w_1024,h_682,x_0,y_0\/c_fill,w_1080,ar_3:2,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FGettyImages%2Fmmsport%2F90min_en_international_web%2F01k4mhxsce5fvgkd5a9b.jpg 3x\" media=\"(max-width: 719px)\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,w_1024,h_682,x_0,y_0\/c_fill,w_720,ar_3:2,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FGettyImages%2Fmmsport%2F90min_en_international_web%2F01k4mhxsce5fvgkd5a9b.jpg 1x, https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,w_1024,h_682,x_0,y_0\/c_fill,w_1440,ar_3:2,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FGettyImages%2Fmmsport%2F90min_en_international_web%2F01k4mhxsce5fvgkd5a9b.jpg 2x, https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,w_1024,h_682,x_0,y_0\/c_fill,w_1440,ar_3:2,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FGettyImages%2Fmmsport%2F90min_en_international_web%2F01k4mhxsce5fvgkd5a9b.jpg 3x\" media=\"(max-width: 1079px)\"\/><source srcset=\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,w_1024,h_682,x_0,y_0\/c_fill,w_720,ar_3:2,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FGettyImages%2Fmmsport%2F90min_en_international_web%2F01k4mhxsce5fvgkd5a9b.jpg 1x, https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,w_1024,h_682,x_0,y_0\/c_fill,w_1440,ar_3:2,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FGettyImages%2Fmmsport%2F90min_en_international_web%2F01k4mhxsce5fvgkd5a9b.jpg 2x, https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,w_1024,h_682,x_0,y_0\/c_fill,w_1440,ar_3:2,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images%2FGettyImages%2Fmmsport%2F90min_en_international_web%2F01k4mhxsce5fvgkd5a9b.jpg 3x\" media=\"(min-width: 1080px)\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"base_1emrqjj\" src=\"https:\/\/images2.minutemediacdn.com\/image\/upload\/c_crop,w_1024,h_682,x_0,y_0\/c_fill,w_720,ar_3:2,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto\/images\/GettyImages\/mmsport\/90min_en_international_web\/01k4mhxsce5fvgkd5a9b.jpg\" alt=\"Austria v Cyprus - FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier\" title=\"Austria v Cyprus - FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier\"\/><\/picture><\/noscript><\/figure>\n<p><figcaption class=\"tagStyle_1mz8fny-o_O-text_mokasa\">The sinkhole appeared near the end of the match. \/ Guenther Iby\/GettyImages<\/figcaption><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3 class=\"tagStyle_1igopqi-o_O-style_1tcxgp3-o_O-style_1pinbx1-o_O-style_48hmcm\" data-mm-id=\"_htxucz00i\"><strong>READ THE LATEST FASHION, CULTURE AND LIFESTYLE CONTENT FROM 90MIN<\/strong><\/h3>\n<aside class=\"style_1d7btat\" data-mm-id=\"_nruo10fz8\"\/><\/div>\n<p><script async src=\"\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><br \/>\n<br \/><br \/>\n<br \/><a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Play was brought to a standstill during Austria\u2019s 2026 World Cup qualifier against Cyprus after a sinkhole suddenly appeared on the pitch late in the second half. The bizarre incident occurred around the 75th minute, when Danish referee Jakob Kehlet halted the match after noticing the gaping hole near Austria keeper Alexander Schlager\u2019s box at [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":5281,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_daextam_enable_autolinks":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5280","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-football-transfers"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/01k4mevb3b7eh5kxj2rd.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5280","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5280"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5280\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5281"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5280"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5280"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/diyhaven858.wasmer.app\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5280"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}