TL;DR
- Cristiano Ronaldo received a one-match ban plus a suspended two-game ban for his red card against Ireland.
- This penalty means Ronaldo will not be banned for the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
- The suspended ban will only take effect if Ronaldo misbehaves again in future matches.
- Ronaldo has already served his one-game ban in Portugal's final World Cup qualifier against Austria.
Cristiano Ronaldo stands as one of modern football's most iconic figures, meaning his involvement and play at significant competitions draw intense global scrutiny.
The Portugal star has the most appearances and goals of any male player in the history of international football, making him one of the all-time greats.
Consequently, the red card he received during World Cup qualifiers against the Republic of Ireland held significance beyond just the competitive aspect, as it also placed his participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup at risk.
Following a red card, players typically receive a ban of several games, leading supporters to quickly question if this would prevent him from participating in the upcoming tournament's matches.
AllSportsPeople is reporting on FIFA's recent decision concerning whether Ronaldo will face a suspension or be permitted to play in North America next summer.
MORE: How the 2026 FIFA World Cup draw will work
Is Cristiano Ronaldo facing a ban from World Cup matches?
FIFA hasn't yet announced the ban for Cristiano Ronaldo's red card versus Ireland, but a report from November 25 indicates his penalty will result in him is not banned for the start of the tournament.
Ronaldo was sent off for throwing an elbow at Ireland defender Dara O'Shea. Typically, a player dismissed for violent behavior receives a three-match ban, though this can be shortened to one or two games during brief tournament play. Nevertheless, FIFA retains the official power to determine the duration of any suspension.
According to a report by Spanish news agency EFE, FIFA's disciplinary committee issued Ronaldo with a one-match ban, plus a suspended two-game ban. The suspension for these extra two fixtures will only take effect if he misbehaves again.
If this report is accurate, Ronaldo has already served the one-game ban against Austria in Portugal's final World Cup qualifier, and he would be able to participate in all 2026 World Cup matches as long as he toes the disciplinary line.
FIFA's penalty for Ronaldo's dismissal against Ireland detailed
Ronaldo was shown a straight red card for violent conduct in the 61st minute of the match.
The experienced attacker struck Ireland's O'Shea in the back with his elbow while they were competing for position inside the home team's box. Initially, referee Glenn Nyberg issued a yellow card to Ronaldo, but after consulting the pitchside monitor at VAR's suggestion, he changed the decision to a red card.
O'Shea then went down onto the pitch to confirm the incident had been observed, but the decision to send off Ronaldo, who had previously made mocking gestures towards Ireland's players in the heated atmosphere of the Aviva Stadium, was completely justified. As Ronaldo left the field, the spectators chanted "Messi", leading him to acknowledge them with applause.
The player's considerable experience made his outburst seem foolish, ultimately dooming his team's hopes of a comeback.
🟥 ¡Cristiano Ronaldo se marcha expulsado por una agresión en el Irlanda - Portugal!
— El Partidazo de COPE (@partidazocope) November 13, 2025
📺 El árbitro revisó la jugada en el VAR y cambió la amarilla por la roja
📻 #PartidazoCOPE pic.twitter.com/6oLDOaiQnH
While Ronaldo faced a potential suspension of as many as three matches, FIFA apparently opted for a more targeted penalty. The exact justification for this decision probably won't be revealed until the disciplinary committee's ruling is finalized.
As stipulated in Section 15 of the 2022 FIFA World Cup regulations, a single-match ban is imposed for both immediate red cards and those resulting from two yellow cards. This suspension is applicable even if it originates from World Cup preliminary matches, also referred to as qualifying rounds.
Ronaldo has participated in how many World Cups?
Ronaldo has appeared in at least one match in five FIFA World Cup tournaments.
This ties a record held by Lionel Messi and retired players Lothar Matthaus, Antonio Carbajal, Andres Guaradado, and Rafael Marquez.
If both Ronaldo and Messi participate in the 2026 World Cup, they'll set a record for the longest tenure in the tournament's history.
MORE: Further details on the World Cup careers of Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi
Portugal's opponents for the 2026 World Cup haven't been determined yet.
Portugal has secured a spot in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, though their group-stage adversaries remain undetermined.
The teams' opponents, along with the schedule and venues for their games, will be decided at the World Cup draw scheduled for Early December in Washington, D.C.
When is the World Cup draw?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup draw will take place on December 5, 2025.
It will commence at 12 p.m. Local time on the east coast of the United States.