A giant football roaming city streets may sound like the plot of a comedy film, but that's exactly what happened in El Salvador this week.
A video of the massive inflatable World Cup-themed ball breaking loose during a storm and bouncing through traffic has gone viral.
The bizarre incident unfolded in El Salvador, the capital of the Central American nation, after heavy rain and strong winds swept through the city earlier this week.
Videos of the runaway football have since been viewed millions of times across social media platforms.
The enormous inflatable ball had been installed at the Bambu shopping centre as part of World Cup-themed decorations, according to a report by The Sun.
However, the celebration took an unexpected turn when powerful winds ripped the inflatable structure from its anchors.
Footage shows the giant ball towering above nearby vehicles as it hurtles across four lanes of traffic. In one dramatic moment, a driver is forced to brake suddenly as the inflatable narrowly misses their vehicle.
The ball then crashes into a palm tree, only to be redirected into the opposite side of the road, where it continues its chaotic journey. It narrowly avoids one car before colliding head-on with a truck and bouncing onto its roof.
Despite the dramatic scenes, the inflatable appeared too lightweight to cause any significant damage, and no injuries were reported.
Although El Salvador failed to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, football fever has nevertheless gripped the country ahead of the tournament, which is jointly being hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Source: India Today
--Agencies
