Will Cristiano Ronaldo be banned for World Cup games? FIFA punishment for Portugal red card vs. Ireland explained originally appeared on The Sporting News.
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Cristiano Ronaldo is one of the most legendary players in the history of modern football, and thus his presence and performances at major tournaments are followed extremely closely around the world.
The Portugal star has the most appearances and goals of any male player in the history of international football, making him one of the all-time greats.
Thus, his red card against the Republic of Ireland in World Cup qualifying was not only meaningful from a competitive standpoint, but it also put his presence at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in jeopardy.
Red cards come with a customary multi-game ban, and as such, fans immediately began to wonder whether he would be forced to sit out matches at the upcoming tournament.
The Sporting News has the latest on what FIFA has decided regarding whether Ronaldo will have to sit out games, or whether he will be able to take the field in North America next summer.
MORE:How the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw will work
Will Cristiano Ronaldo be banned for World Cup games?
FIFA has not yet confirmed the suspension for Cristiano Ronaldo's red card against Ireland, but according to a report on November 25, his punishment will mean he is not banned for the start of the tournament.
Ronaldo was sent off for throwing an elbow at Ireland defender Dara O'Shea. The customary ban for a dismissal for violent conduct is three matches, reduced to one or two in a short-term tournament setting. However, FIFA has the written authority to adjudicate on the length of any suspension.
According to a report by Spanish news agency EFE, FIFA's disciplinary committee issued Ronaldo with a one-match ban, plus a suspended two-game ban. The suspension for these extra two fixtures will only take effect if he misbehaves again.
FIFA confirmed this was the decision shortly after. “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 at the next official match(es) of the Portuguese representative team. This is without prejudice to any additional sanctions imposed for the new infringement.”
If this report is accurate, Ronaldo has already served the one-game ban against Austria in Portugal's final World Cup qualifier, and he would be able to participate in all 2026 World Cup matches as long as he toes the disciplinary line.
FIFA punishment for Ronaldo's red card vs. Ireland explained
Ronaldo was shown a straight red card for violent conduct in the 61st minute of the match.
The veteran forward elbowed Ireland defender O'Shea in the back as the two jostled in the home side's penalty area. Referee Glenn Nyberg initially showed a yellow card to Ronaldo, but after reviewing the incident on the pitchside monitor following a recommendation by VAR, he upgraded the punishment to a red card.
O'Shea then dropped to the turf to make sure the incident had been noticed, but it was an entirely correct decision to dismiss Ronaldo, who had earlier made crying gestures toward Ireland's players amid the febrile atmosphere of the Aviva Stadium. The crowd responded by chanting “Messi” as Ronaldo walked from the pitch, prompting him to applaud them.
It was a foolish display of petulance from such a vastly experienced player, and one that effectively left his team with no chance of mounting a comeback.
🟥 ¡Cristiano Ronaldo se marcha expulsado por una agresión en el Irlanda – Portugal!
📺 El árbitro revisó la jugada en el VAR y cambió la amarilla por la roja
📻 #PartidazoCOPEpic.twitter.com/6oLDOaiQnH
— El Partidazo de COPE (@partidazocope) November 13, 2025
Although Ronaldo was at risk of a ban of up to three games, FIFA reportedly chose to issue a more specific sanction. Their precise reasoning is not likely to be made public until the disciplinary committee's decision is confirmed.
According to Section 15 of the 2022 FIFA World Cup regulations, both direct (straight) or indirect (two yellow cards) red cards carry a one-match suspension, which does carry over from preliminary World Cup competition (also known as qualifying).
How many World Cups has Ronaldo played at?
Ronaldo has appeared in at least one match in five FIFA World Cup tournaments.
This is the joint-most of any player in history, alongside Lionel Messi, as well as retired players Lothar Matthaus, Antonio Carbajal, Andres Guaradado, and Rafael Marquez.
Should Ronaldo and Messi both appear in the 2026 World Cup, they would become the longest-tenured players in the history of the competition.
MORE:Further details on the World Cup careers of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi
Who are Portugal playing at World Cup 2026?
Portugal have officially qualified for the 2026 FIFA World Cup but do not yet know their group-stage opponents.
The World Cup draw, which will take place in early December in Washington, D.C., will determine which teams they face, plus the dates and locations of their matches.
When is the World Cup draw?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup draw will take place on December 5, 2025.
It will commence at 12 p.m. local time on the east coast of the United States.
