Portugal superstar Cristiano Ronaldo will be eligible to play in his country’s opening match at the 2026 World Cup finals despite his recent red card against the Republic of Ireland.
Ronaldo, 40, was sent off for an elbow during a qualifying defeat earlier this month.
While violent conduct usually carries a three-match ban, FIFA has suspended the final two matches for a year, acknowledging it was his first red card in 226 international appearances.
The one-match suspension was served against Armenia on 16 November, meaning the forward—who scored five goals in qualifying—will not miss any games next summer in the United States.
FIFA warned that if Ronaldo commits another similar infraction during the probationary period, the remaining two matches must be served immediately.
