FIFA authorizes Ronaldo to participate in Portugal’s opening World Cup match
Ronaldo can play in Portugal’s first World Cup matches if FIFA suspends the final two of his three-match ban.
FIFA deferred the final two games of Cristiano Ronaldo’s three-match punishment, allowing him to participate in Portugal’s first World Cup matches next year.
Earlier this month, during the team’s penultimate qualifying encounter against Ireland in Dublin, the captain of Portugal was sent off for elbowing Dara OShea in the back during a 2-0 loss. After a VAR review, the ejection was increased from a yellow card to his first red card in 226 international games.
Ronaldo was absent from Portugal’s 9-1 victory over Armenia in their last group match, which guaranteed qualifying. FIFA later stated that the forty-year-old had been banned for three games; however, the governing body decided to suspend the final two games until he committed another offense.
“The serving of the two remaining matches has been suspended under a one-year probationary period in accordance with article 27 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code,” FIFA stated in a statement.
The organization further stated that “the suspension outlined in the disciplinary decision shall be deemed automatically revoked and the remaining two matches must be served immediately at the next official match(es) of the Portuguese representative team if Cristiano Ronaldo commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period.”
FIFA’s judicial panel has the authority “to fully or partially suspend the implementation of a disciplinary measure” under Article 27. FIFA has been approached for clarification, according to Reuters, but the organization has not provided an explanation for its decision to postpone the ban.
Ronaldo will play in his sixth World Cup as he continues to pursue the one major trophy he has yet to win in his career. In June, he extended his contract with Saudi Arabian club Al Nassr until 2027. The former attacker for Juventus, Real Madrid, and Manchester United has already won two Nations League titles, Euro 2016, and is the all-time greatest scorer in international football with 143 goals.
On December 5, in Washington, the United States, Canada, and Mexico will draw for the 2026 World Cup.
