Almiron gets first World Cup red card for covering mouth

Paraguay midfielder Miguel Almiron made World Cup history on Friday, June 19, 2026, becoming the first player to be sent off under a new rule prohibiting covering one's mouth during a confrontation with an opponent. The straight red card was issued just before halftime in Paraguay's 1-0 victory over Turkey in a Group D match at Levi's Stadium in the San Francisco Bay Area.

The incident occurred after a foul and an injury to Paraguayan player Isidro Pitta led to a heated exchange between the teams. Almiron was seen covering his mouth with his hand while speaking to Turkish defender Mert Muldur, who immediately alerted referee Ivan Barton of El Salvador. Following a video assistant referee review, Barton enforced the new regulation, reducing Paraguay to ten men for the entire second half.

The rule was approved by the International Football Association Board in April and implemented for this World Cup. Officials have framed it as a measure to combat potential abusive or discriminatory language by preventing players from hiding their words during confrontations. Its introduction followed a high-profile incident in a February Champions League match involving Benfica's Gianluca...