FIFA Suspends Two Matches of Ronaldo's Ban for 2026 WC Opener

Cristiano Ronaldo will be eligible to play in Portugal's opening match at the 2026 World Cup after FIFA suspended two matches of his three-game ban for violent conduct during a World Cup qualifier last month. The decision, announced Tuesday by FIFA's disciplinary committee, has drawn sharp criticism for appearing to favor the Portuguese superstar and raising questions about the consistency of soccer's governing body's enforcement of rules.

The incident occurred on November 13 in Dublin, where Portugal lost 2-0 to the Republic of Ireland in a European qualifying match. Trailing and visibly frustrated, Ronaldo struck Ireland defender Dara O'Shea in the back with an elbow. Initially shown a yellow card, the challenge was reviewed by video assistant referee and upgraded to a straight red card, marking the first dismissal of Ronaldo's 226 international appearances.

Under FIFA's disciplinary code, violent conduct typically results in a minimum three-match suspension across competitive fixtures. Ronaldo sat out Portugal's final qualifier the following week, a 9-1 victory over Armenia that secured their qualification for the tournament co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico...