Why Cristiano Ronaldo could face a ban and subsequently miss Portugal's FIFA World Cup 2026 opener

Cristiano Ronaldo received his first-ever international red card for elbowing an opponent, potentially jeopardising his participation in the 2026 World Cup opener. While Portugal's coach defended the action as harsh, FIFA regulations suggest a ban of at least two matches for serious foul play. A victory against Armenia will secure Portugal's World Cup spot.

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo (AP Photo/Peter Morrison)

Cristiano Ronaldo faces a potential ban for the opening game of the 2026 World Cup following his first-ever red card in international football during Portugal's 2-0 defeat to the Republic of Ireland on Thursday. The incident occurred in the 61st minute when Ronaldo elbowed Ireland defender Dara O'Shea. Initially shown a yellow card, the referee upgraded it to red after reviewing the incident on the pitchside monitor following VAR intervention.

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This was Ronaldo's first red card for Portugal in his 226th appearance, which stands as a record in men's international soccer. At club level, he has received 13 red cards. The Al Nassr forward will serve an automatic one-game suspension when Portugal face Armenia on Sunday. A victory in that match would secure Portugal's place in the World Cup, which will be hosted jointly by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. FIFA's disciplinary regulations state that a ban of "at least two matches for serious foul play" must be imposed. The rules further specify that "at least three matches for violent conduct" or "at least three matches or an appropriate period of time for assault, including elbowing" should be enforced. Any FIFA ban would apply only to competitive matches and cannot be served during pre-tournament friendly games. Portugal's coach Roberto Martinez defended his captain after the match, stating, "The red card is just a captain that has never been sent off before in 226 games -- I think that just deserves credit -- and today, I thought it was a bit harsh because he cares about the team. He was 60 minutes or 58 minutes in the box being grabbed, being pulled, being pushed, and obviously when he tries to get away from the defender... I think the action looks worse than what it actually is, I don't think it's an elbow, I think it's a full body, but from where the camera is, it looks like an elbow. But we accept it. "The only thing that leaves a bitter taste in my mouth is at the press conference [Wednesday], your coach was talking about the aspect of the referees being influenced, and then a big center-half falls on the floor so dramatically at the turn of Cristiano's body." Portugal entered the match knowing a victory would guarantee their World Cup qualification. However, Ireland's Troy Parrott scored twice to secure an unexpected win for the hosts. Portugal maintains a two-point lead over Hungary in Group F. A win against Armenia would ensure Ronaldo's participation in his sixth World Cup. Before the match, Ronaldo had promised to behave well, anticipating a hostile reception at the Aviva Stadium. This followed controversy from the previous meeting between the teams, where he celebrated Rúben Neves' late winner in front of Ireland defender Jake O'Brien. Ireland's supporters had previously accused Ronaldo of influencing match officials. Their coach, Heimir Hallgrimsson, had requested Swedish referee Glenn Nyberg not to allow Ronaldo to control the game. After his dismissal, Ronaldo displayed what appeared to be a sarcastic gesture, clapping and giving two thumbs up while being jeered by Ireland fans. He also had words with Hallgrimsson while leaving the field. When asked about his interaction with Ronaldo, Hallgrimsson revealed: "He complimented me for putting pressure on the referee. It was his action on the pitch that cost him the red card. It had nothing to do with me -- unless I got into his head." Regarding any post-match conversation with Ronaldo, Hallgrimsson added: "No, I think we spoke enough when he came off. There was nothing to speak about. This was just a moment of a little silliness from him, I would say."

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