Ronaldo clears the hurdle: FIFA confirms World Cup 2026 opener stays on track
25 November 2025
The Portuguese star Cristiano Ronaldo, captain of Al Nassr, appears to have escaped a nightmare scenario, as he will not miss the 2026 World Cup finals in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Early speculation suggested he could miss at least the opening match of World Cup 2026 after a red card against Ireland in the European qualifying campaign, which reportedly carried a potential three-match ban.
A lenient sanction
Portuguese newspaper Record confirmed that FIFA decided to suspend Ronaldo for a single match. The interpretation was that if the red card had been for violent conduct, three matches would have been the rule, but FIFA chose a lighter reading of the incident. Ronaldo had already missed the subsequent qualifier against Armenia, which meant any additional ban would have spilled into the World Cup, but that did not happen.
The decision kept Ronaldo available for the tournament’s early games, avoiding what would have been a costly absence in the group stage.
Ronaldo’s club and country will hope the timing of the punishment stays favorable as the roster is finalised and the build‑up to the tournament gathers pace.
Historic red card
In the Ireland game, Ronaldo was sent off in the 62nd minute after a Video Assistant Review determined an elbow strike on an Irish defender, with Portugal already trailing 0-2. The dismissal left Portugal to continue with ten men and unable to equalise in the remaining minutes.
This marked Ronaldo’s first red card with Portugal in 226 appearances since 2003. Had the ban been three matches, he would have missed the first two World Cup games, according to Sky Sports, making the one‑match punishment a notable deviation from the letter of the law in such cases.
FIFA’s disciplinary code, Article 14, Section 2, states that a red card for assault, including using an elbow, carries three matches. The single‑match sanction thus represented a narrower interpretation, given Portugal’s qualification schedule and the timing of the incident.
With only one European qualifier remaining, the red card would have spilled into the World Cup unless a milder sanction was applied, which is what ultimately occurred.
The last World Cup
Ronaldo has spoken of aiming for a perfect ending to his World Cup tale, eyeing the 2026 edition in the United States, Canada and Mexico as perhaps his final appearance. Speaking at a recent global tourism forum in Riyadh, he acknowledged that the next World Cup would likely be his last, noting he would be 41 by then.
“My goal is to appear at the World Cup 2026,” he said. “It will surely be my last because I’ll be 41 then.” He added that he has given everything to football for 25 years, feels pride and intends to enjoy what remains of his career.
The 2026 World Cup would be Ronaldo’s sixth appearance, a historic tally not matched by any other player. He could be joined in that milestone by Lionel Messi, who has appeared in every World Cup since 2006, continuing the intriguing Messi–Ronaldo dynamic into a potential final chapter in this sport’s history.
Punchlines coming up, because even legends deserve a little levity: Ronaldo dodges a ban—clearly even FIFA respects a good comeback story. And at 41, he’ll still be chasing the ball; that World Cup stopwatch might need a pair of reading glasses for the finale.
