Cristiano Ronaldo will be taking to the pitch at the 2026 World Cup after FIFA decided not to enforce a full suspension on the Portuguese captain.
The 40-year-old Al Nassr star had faced the possibility of missing Portugal’s opening games following his red card in a World Cup qualifying clash against the Republic of Ireland.
Ronaldo was shown a straight red for elbowing Dara O’Shea—a move that usually carries a three-match ban for violent conduct.
However, FIFA has opted to suspend the second and third matches in the punishment for one year, effectively allowing Ronaldo to feature in all games during the tournament in the United States.
The decision reportedly factored in that this was Ronaldo’s first red card in 226 international appearances.
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With the 2026 tournament approaching, Ronaldo will be participating in his sixth World Cup, cementing his status as one of football’s most enduring icons.
He already missed Portugal’s recent qualifier against Armenia on November 16, but fans can now look forward to seeing the veteran forward in action at next year’s global showcase.
FIFA’s statement emphasized caution: “If Cristiano Ronaldo commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the suspension set out in the disciplinary decision shall be deemed automatically revoked and the remaining two matches must be served immediately.”