Otamendi and Caicedo: FIFA changes rules and they will play in the 2026 World Cup

Otamendi and Caicedo Cleared for the 2026 World Cup

Buenos Aires – In a groundbreaking decision, FIFA has modified its regulations, allowing Nicolás Otamendi and Moisés Caicedo, key figures for Argentina and Ecuador respectively, to participate in the debut of their national teams in the 2026 World Cup. The measure, approved by the FIFA Council Bureau and pending ratification at the next Council session, establishes that suspensions for expulsions suffered during the qualifiers will not be carried over to the final phase of the tournament.

Yellow cards and suspensions pending from one or two matches as a result of warnings in different matches of the preliminary phase, red cards for double warning, or direct red cards will not be carried over to the final phase.

FIFA Resolution

This specific regulation states that the exception applies to expulsions for preventing goals or clear goal-scoring opportunities, as well as for extremely harsh fouls.

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) celebrated this decision, especially after requesting an amnesty for Otamendi, who was sent off in the match between Argentina and Ecuador on September 9 in Guayaquil. Otamendi, Benfica defender, received a straight red card for preventing a clear goal-scoring opportunity, while Caicedo, Chelsea midfielder, was sanctioned with two yellow cards. Argentina, framed in group J along with Algeria, Austria, and Jordan, will debut on June 16 against Algeria. However, the participation of Cristian ‘Cuti’ Romero, another Argentine defender, is uncertain due to an injury suffered in April. Ecuador, for its part, will share group E with Germany, Ivory Coast and Curaçao, and its World Cup debut will be on June 14 against Ivory Coast.