20.06.2026 22:50
Referee Felix Zwayer, who suffered a cramp during the FIFA 2026 World Cup match between the USA and Australia, returned to the field by solving his health issue with an unusual method. It was reported that the German referee recovered with pickle juice brought by an assistant referee. This mixture, containing a salty solution and vinegar, is said to provide a quick effect against muscle cramps.
An extraordinary medical intervention that will go down in football history occurred in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. German referee Felix Zwayer, who suffered a cramp in the final moments of the critical match between USA and Australia, drank pickle juice brought by his assisting team and continued the game.
CRAMP IN HIS LEG DURING THE MATCH
In the minutes when the match's tempo peaked, experienced referee Felix Zwayer suddenly fell to the ground in pain and had to stop the game due to a severe cramp in his leg. While everyone expected the classic spray or massage intervention from the medical team, an unusual activity took place on the sidelines.
RECOVERED WITH PICKLE JUICE
The assistant referee was the first to rush to Zwayer's aid. The assistant referee quickly headed toward the substitute bench and brought a special mixture from the medical team to the field. It turned out that this mixture was pickle juice, which has been spreading by word of mouth in the sports world recently. The German referee stood up shortly after taking a few sips of the pickle juice handed to him in the middle of the field. Indicating that the cramp was gone, Zwayer put his whistle back to his mouth and successfully continued officiating the match from where it left off.
WHAT'S ITS SECRET? HOW DOES IT WORK SO FAST?
So, how does pickle juice, which has become a secret weapon for athletes and now referees, resolve muscle cramps so quickly? Experts state that the combination of dense water, salty solution (sodium), and vinegar (acetic acid) in pickle juice has a miraculous effect. Contrary to traditional belief, pickle juice works not by replenishing missing minerals in the body, but by stimulating nerve receptors at the back of the mouth and throat. This neurological reflex triggered by vinegar instantly blocks the "cramp" signal sent by the brain to the muscles and allows them to relax.