World Cup 2026: Cristiano Ronaldo has been handed a sanction
Facing the prospect of a heavy sanction after being sent off against Ireland, Cristiano Ronaldo was ultimately cleared by FIFA. The Portuguese captain, 40, will therefore be able to play without hindrance in the opening match of the 2026 World Cup, his first red card in 226 caps having weighed in the decision.
Cristiano Ronaldo sous le maillot de Al Nassr @AFP
Cristiano Ronaldo will finally be able to play in the 2026 World Cup. The Portugal captain, aged 40, avoided a suspension that could have jeopardized his presence at the tournament’s opening match. Al-Nassr’s forward faced a potential multi-game ban after his sending-off against Ireland in the qualifiers for elbowing Dara O’Shea. Such an act is generally punished with a three-match suspension because of its violent nature.
According to the BBC, FIFA’s disciplinary committee nevertheless took into account a decisive factor: it was Ronaldo’s first red card in 226 caps. Thus, after serving one match — against Armenia on 16 November — the two other potential matches of suspension were placed on probation for one year.
FIFA nevertheless specifies that leniency has its limits: “If Cristiano Ronaldo commits a similar offence during his probationary period, the original suspension will be reactivated and the remaining two matches must be served immediately.” Ronaldo will therefore be available to lead his side at the World Cup hosted in the United States, Canada and Mexico next summer.