A Brazilian Under-15 cup match between Flamengo and Ceara was twice interrupted on Saturday, August 1, 2026, after a wild macaw invaded the pitch and attacked a player. The incidents occurred in the 17th minute and later in the first half of the game.
The blue-and-yellow macaw, native to South America, initially flew onto a Flamengo defender, knocking the player down. The unusual intervention caused panic among other players, prompting the referee to stop the match until the bird left the field. The parrot remained on the pitch for approximately 15 minutes before the game was able to resume.
The bird made a second appearance later in the first half, leading to another stoppage. Eventually, the match concluded with Ceara defeating Flamengo 2-1.
This is not the first time a bird has disrupted a soccer game this year. Six months prior, a seagull was struck by a free kick during an amateur match in Turkey between Istanbul Yurdum and Mevlanakapi. The bird fell to the pitch, and the captain of Istanbul Yurdum, Gani Catan, administered CPR before carrying it to the sideline for further treatment.