World Cup trophy prop deflates during Toronto opening ceremony
A giant inflatable FIFA trophy malfunctioned at BMO Field during the opening show, sparking a wave of memes about Canada's economy.
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During Friday's opening ceremony at BMO Field, a giant World Cup trophy prop partially deflated while performers took the stage, turning a moment meant to celebrate the tournament into quick internet fodder.
The mishap happened during the performance by Palestinian-Chilean singer Elyanna and Moroccan-Canadian superstar Nora Fatehi. Social media users immediately seized on the technical glitch, with many joking about Canada's broader economic struggles and frustrations over ticket prices and empty seats visible in the stadium.
Some fans defended the ceremony, noting that technical glitches happen at major events and praising the musical performances. Canada opened its World Cup campaign by tying Bosnia and Herzegovina 1-1 on the day of the ceremony.