Cristiano Ronaldo will be available for Portugal’s opening matches at the 2026 World Cup after FIFA opted not to trigger an additional suspension for his recent red card in World Cup qualifying.
FIFA’s disciplinary committee said Tuesday that it had imposed a three-match ban on the Portugal captain, but the two remaining games were deferred for a one-year probation period.
Ronaldo was sent off for swinging an elbow toward defender Dara O’Shea in a 2-0 World Cup qualification defeat to the Republic of Ireland on Nov. 13.