Before the ball gets kicked off on June 12, let us take you on a visual journey comprising some of the best brawls in the history of the FIFA World Cup
In three days, the much-awaited FIFA World Cup will go live when co-hosts Mexico take on South Africa. The internet is filled with numerous articles about the World Cup, players, tactics, and more. Therefore, we thought, why not take our readers through a visual journey instead of another wordy article?
As you scroll, you will come across some of the best brawls that ever took place in World Cup history—those that are our absolute favourites!
#1 Zidane’s headbutt
Materazzi insulting Zidane's sister in the world cup finals lead to this explosive headbutt reaction from Zidane 🤯
A moment of REVENGE forever etched in the football history. https://t.co/x7swNrkGz0 pic.twitter.com/8X8mVzsnfL— 𝐌𝐨𝐢𝐬é𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐝𝐨🇪🇨 (@CaicedoEra_) January 11, 2026
In the last game of his career, he opened the scoreline for France, and then a provocation from Marco Materazzi saw Zinedine Zidane earn a red card. Had he not headbutted Materazzi, he would’ve won another World Cup.
#2 Battle of Santiago
The most violent World Cup match of all-time. Italy v Chile from 1962, which was dubbed ‘The Battle Of Santiago’
— TV Football 1968-92 (@1968Tv) June 9, 2026
Commentator David Coleman #WorldCup #FIFAWorldCup #Italy #Chile pic.twitter.com/XvN2CgKFAb
You have heard of the Battle of Nuremberg, but do you know anything about the Battle of Santiago? In the 1962 FIFA World Cup, a match between Italy and Chile turned into a boxing ring. Ken Aston, the referee of that game, later went on to invent yellow and red cards.
#3 Beckham breaks England’s heart
1998 World Cup 🌍🏆
— The 44 ⚽️ (@The_Forty_Four) June 4, 2026
Round of 16
🇦🇷Argentina vs England🏴
Michael Owen Magic✨🪄
David Beckham Sent Off❌
Diego Simeone CHEAT😡
Sol Campbell ROBBED🤬
England’s penalty heartbreak💔 pic.twitter.com/Y3qxohxqIM
In the 1998 World Cup game between England and Argentina, a 23-year-old David Beckham deliberately tripped Diego Simeone, leading to the latter receiving a red card. Beckham became the youngest player ever to receive a red card for England in the World Cup and, at that point, one of the most hated players in his country.
#4 Third time for Suarez
Italy haven’t played a World Cup game since the time Luis Suarez bit Giorgio Chiellini in 2014… 🤯🫦
— Sleeper Football (@SleeperFooty) November 20, 2025
That’s genuinely crazy… it’s been a ‘mixed emotions’ era for Italian football over the last few years, especially considering only 19 years ago they were winning World Cup’s… pic.twitter.com/YK5HU1yNYK
If it wasn’t enough biting for Suarez in Holland and the EPL, the Uruguayan chose to repeat his biting theatrics on the biggest football stage. He bit Italian defender Chiellini during the 2014 World Cup, sparking a massive confrontation on the field.
#5 Jong’s kung fu
Le tacle de Nigel de Jong sur Xabi Alonso et il prend que jaune, c’est une dinguerie.
— 𝐉𝐨𝐬𝐡𝐮𝐚🕸️ (@Bjoker202) March 8, 2026
pic.twitter.com/z18Ht245db
During the 2010 World Cup final, while Spain adopted a passing game, the Dutch went all-in on physicality. The game saw Nigel de Jong bringing Xabi Alonso down with a direct kick in the latter’s chest.
#6 Battle of Lusail
The Battle of Lusail, the 2022 FIFA World Cup quarter-final match between the Netherlands and Argentina at Lusail Stadium, Qatar, on 9 December 2022, was pure cinema. pic.twitter.com/LsDeHPIp9g
— The Extreme Football Enthusiast (@ExtremeFootbal4) July 6, 2025
Never in our dreams did we imagine that the current Argentinian team would engage in physical fights, but they did so against the Netherlands in 2022. The Argentinian players fought physically not only for their country but, more importantly, out of love and respect for their captain, Lionel Messi.
