Cristiano Ronaldo to Play in World Cup; FIFA Grants Exemption

Cristiano Ronaldo is set to be available for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite initial fears he might miss the opening matches. The concern arose after he received a red card for elbowing an opponent during a World Cup qualifier.

Following the incident, FIFA imposed a three-match ban on Ronaldo. However, two of those matches have been suspended under a one-year probation. The player has already served the mandatory one-match suspension by missing Portugal’s final qualifying match against Armenia.

The remaining two-match ban will only be enforced if Ronaldo commits a similar offense within the next year. Therefore, he is expected to be available to play for Portugal in the World Cup, which is scheduled to begin on June 11, 2026, in the USA, Canada, and Mexico.