Cristiano Ronaldo Cleared for 2026 World Cup After FIFA Decision
Portugal’s national team star, Cristiano Ronaldo, will be able to participate in the first match of the 2026 World Cup. This is because the FIFA Disciplinary Committee imposed a one-match suspension on him, which has already been served, following the red card received in the 2-0 defeat against the Republic of Ireland on November 13th. It was expected that the star would be suspended for at least one more match, which would have forced him to start his sixth World Cup, a record, from the bench. FIFA published on Tuesday a disciplinary verdict that imposed a three-match suspension, but two of them were deferred with a one-year probationary period. FIFA issued an additional two-match suspension for Ronaldo, which he will not have to serve as long as he does not commit another disciplinary offense.
Sent off against Ireland in Dublin, Ronaldo had never before received a straight red card in his 226 appearances for the national team, a record in international football. Subsequently, he served the mandatory one-match suspension when Portugal played their final qualifying match last week, a 9-1 victory over Armenia that sealed their place in the World Cup in North America. Ronaldo was shown a red card for violent conduct in the 61st minute, after elbowing Irish defender Dara O’Shea away from the ball. After an initial yellow card, the referee was urged to review the incident on the pitchside monitor by the video assistant referee and changed the decision to a red card. Ronaldo has been sent off 13 times at club level. The FIFA verdict comes six days after Ronaldo met with US President Donald Trump at the White House for a formal dinner with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Ronaldo has played in the Saudi Pro League for three years for a club largely owned by the Saudi sovereign wealth that the prince chairs.“If Cristiano Ronaldo commits another offense of a similar nature and severity during the probationary period,” FIFA stated in a statement, “the remaining two matches must be served immediately.”
FIFA
