A rare solar eclipse transformed several European sporting venues into unexpected viewing spots on Wednesday, as football fans, athletes and cricket spectators briefly turned away from the action to look at the sky. The eclipse, which was the most significant visible over the UK since 1999, coincided with a busy evening of sport across Britain and Ireland, creating striking scenes inside and around stadiums.
The August 12, 2026 solar eclipse was visible as a total eclipse along a narrow path crossing parts of Greenland, Iceland, northern Russia, the Atlantic Ocean, Spain and a small part of Portugal. Much of Europe, including the UK and Ireland, experienced a partial solar eclipse. NASA said the Moon’s shadow travelled across the Northern Hemisphere, with the eclipse reaching totality only along the central path.
In Britain, more than 90% of the Sun was obscured at the peak of the eclipse in some locations, making it an especially dramatic event for spectators. The phenomenon was visible during the evening, when thousands of people were already gathered at sporting venues. The timing meant that many fans arrived at stadiums carrying protective eclipse glasses alongside their football scarves and team shirts.
One of the most unusual combinations unfolded at Dublin’s Croke Park, where Manchester United and Leeds United met in a pre-season friendly. More than 80,000 supporters filled the famous stadium, and many took the opportunity to watch the eclipse before and around the match. The occasion was already significant because it marked the return of club football to Croke Park after a long absence.
The match itself added another layer to an extraordinary evening. Manchester United and Leeds drew 1-1 in normal time before United won 5-4 on penalties, with Noussair Mazraoui scoring the decisive spot-kick. Joshua Zirkzee put United ahead before Leeds equalised through Brenden Aaronson.
For supporters, however, the football was not the only attraction. The sky darkened noticeably as the Moon moved across the Sun, prompting fans to take photographs and videos. Some stadium stewards even brought welding masks to watch the eclipse safely, while spectators used approved protective glasses. The unusual backdrop gave the Manchester United-Leeds fixture a memorable atmosphere that few pre-season matches can offer.
A similar scene unfolded in Salzburg, Austria, where Paris Saint-Germain and Aston Villa met in the 2026 UEFA Super Cup. The match brought together the reigning Champions League winners and Europa League holders, with the fixture being played at Stadion Salzburg. Fans inside the stadium were able to see the eclipse before the match, while images of the phenomenon were also displayed on the stadium’s big screen.
The eclipse also appeared above the Emirates Stadium in London, where spectators gathered for Arsenal’s pre-season match against Como. Supporters outside and inside the stadium looked towards the sky, with many capturing the event on their phones. The presence of the eclipse turned what would normally have been a routine pre-season football evening into something far more unusual.
The sporting spectacle extended beyond football. At Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium, spectators attending the 2026 European Athletics Championships also paused to observe the eclipse. Swedish athletes Erika Warff and Tilde Bjerager were among those who gathered outside the venue to watch the sky. Some spectators used protective paper glasses, although cloud cover made the eclipse harder to see at its peak.
The athletics championships themselves provided plenty of action, with Britain’s Matthew Hudson-Smith winning the men’s 400-metre European title in 44.17 seconds. It was his third European championship gold in the event. Emily Newnham also claimed silver in the women’s 400m hurdles, while Switzerland’s Jason Joseph won the men’s 110m hurdles.
Just a short distance away, cricket fans at Edgbaston also got a view of the solar eclipse while watching The Hundred. Spectators at the match between Birmingham Phoenix and MI London were able to experience the unusual combination of live cricket and a major astronomical event.
