Portugal captain Cristiano Ronaldo risks missing the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after being sent off in Portugal’s 2–0 defeat to the Republic of Ireland on Thursday.
The 40-year-old received his first-ever red card for Portugal in what was his 226th international appearance. Ronaldo was initially cautioned for elbowing Irish defender Dara O’Shea in the 61st minute, but the decision was upgraded to a straight red following a VAR review.
Under FIFA disciplinary regulations, a red card for violent conduct carries a minimum one-match ban, with the possibility of a suspension of up to three competitive matches, depending on the severity of the offence.
The suspension cannot be served during friendly matches, meaning Ronaldo’s ban will apply directly to Portugal’s competitive fixtures—potentially ruling him out of their opening game at next year’s World Cup.
Portugal had already secured qualification for the expanded 48-team tournament, set to be hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
