Ronaldo to Potentially Avoid Further Suspensions Ahead of 2026 World Cup

Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to participate in the upcoming 2026 World Cup for Portugal, despite receiving a red card in a qualifying match for elbowing an opponent from the Republic of Ireland.

On Tuesday, FIFA released a disciplinary decision imposing a three-game suspension on Ronaldo for what was classified as “violent conduct” or “serious foul play.” However, notably, two of those games have been deferred for a one-year probation period.

Ronaldo already completed a mandatory one-game suspension during Portugal’s last qualifying match, a 9-1 victory against Armenia that secured their spot in the World Cup in North America.

Initially, there were expectations that Ronaldo would face an additional ban, potentially sidelining him for the start of what would be his record sixth World Cup. FIFA’s disciplinary regulations allow for parts of the sanction to be probationary, though it is unusual for two out of three games to be deferred in such cases.

In two recent instances this month, players from Armenia and Burundi received three-game bans for red cards due to aggressive behavior in qualifying matches, and neither received any reduction on probation.

FIFA stated, “If Cristiano Ronaldo commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period, the remaining two games will be activated.”

FIFA holds disciplinary authority over national-team matches, and Portugal is set to play two friendly matches in March, followed by one or two warm-up games in late May or June. The World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, is scheduled to commence on June 11.

The incident in question occurred when Ronaldo struck Ireland defender Dara O’Shea with an elbow during a 2-0 defeat in Dublin two weeks ago. This red card marked Ronaldo’s first in his record-extending 226th international appearance; he has also been sent off 13 times in club competitions.

FIFA’s ruling allows for an appeal to the FIFA Appeal Committee. It remains uncertain who might have the legal standing to contest this decision, whether it be the Irish soccer federation or one of Portugal’s World Cup opponents.

This ruling follows closely behind an event where Ronaldo met with U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House for a formal dinner alongside Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Ronaldo has been active in the Saudi Pro League for the past three years, playing for a club primarily owned by the Saudi sovereign wealth fund chaired by the prince.