{"id":442081,"date":"2026-08-24T16:14:12","date_gmt":"2026-08-24T16:14:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/442081\/"},"modified":"2026-08-24T16:14:12","modified_gmt":"2026-08-24T16:14:12","slug":"theres-a-baby-on-the-field-toddler-invades-pitch-during-minnesotas-mls-win-over-san-jose-mls","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/442081\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018There\u2019s a baby on the field\u2019: Toddler invades pitch during Minnesota\u2019s MLS win over San Jose | MLS"},"content":{"rendered":"

A toddler interrupted a Major League Soccer<\/a> match between Minnesota United and San Jose Earthquakes on Saturday by invading the pitch \u2013 a bizarre scene punctuated by an on-air analyst saying, \u201cThere\u2019s a baby on the field.\u201d<\/p>\n

With a minute and a half to play in the game that Minnesota won 5-1 at PayPal Park in San Jose<\/a>, California, the small child took to the field \u2013 and the referee blew his whistle to stop play.<\/p>\n

The toddler appeared to be enjoying the freedom before being scooped up by a stadium official and handed over to a woman, presumably the toddler\u2019s mother.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh!\u201d There\u2019s a baby on the field,\u201d Apple TV analyst Kyndra de St Aubin could be heard saying in astonishment on the broadcast.<\/p>\n

Game commentators recalled previous pitch invasions \u2013 including when a raccoon stopped play in May 2024.<\/p>\n

Later dubbed \u201cRaquinho\u201d, the creature mounted a pitch invasion before being caught in a trash can.<\/p>\n

The effort to catch<\/a> the raccoon took four men during a game between New York City FC and the Philadelphia Union.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe need to find him a ball because he\u2019s moving very well in the center of midfield,\u201d Apple TV commentator Callum Williams said at the time.<\/a> \u201cI don\u2019t think I\u2019ve ever seen anything quite as bizarre as this, particularly given the amount of time he\u2019s remained on the field.\u201d<\/p>\n

PayPal Park security escorted the toddler off the field and handed them to a woman, presumably the child\u2019s mother. Photograph: Brandon Vallance\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

A commentator at Saturday\u2019s game at PayPal Park said, \u201cThat\u2019s way better than the racoon\u201d \u2013 and noted that the baby was \u201con the edge of the 18[-yard box].\u201d<\/p>\n

Minnesota manager Cameron Knowles later said: \u201cYou could hear the noise and then you\u2019re looking to see what it is.<\/p>\n

\u201cI thought, \u2018Man, it\u2019s a little too early to get a lifetime ban from a stadium.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

According to the New York Times\u2019 The Athletic<\/a>, Saturday was the third time since 2021 that a child has invaded the pitch during a match.<\/p>\n

In June 2025, during a match between DC United and the Chicago Fire<\/a>, a baby made it on the pitch before being scooped up by security.<\/p>\n

A mom in Ohio in 2021 raced on to the pitch to collect her 2-year-old son from the pitch of a game between FC Cincinnati and Orlando City FC.<\/p>\n

After Saturday\u2019s pitch invasion, Minnesota United\u2019s X account posted that its decisive win over San Jose was \u201cLike taking money from a baby<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n