Ronaldo set to avoid ban at World Cup after FIFA defers his punishment following red card infraction

Cristiano Ronaldo will likely avoid missing any of Portugal matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, despite his red card for elbowing Dara O'Shea earlier in November, during a 2-0 defeat in qualifying against the Republic of Ireland.

FIFA published a disciplinary verdict on Tuesday that imposed a three-game ban, which judged Ronaldo's action as "violent conduct" or "serious foul play", but with two of those games deferred for a one-year probation period.

Ronaldo served a mandatory one-match ban in Portugal's final qualifier last week – a 9-1 win over Armenia that sealed the team's place at next summer's football showpiece in North America.

The superstar striker had been expected to be banned for at least one more game and start what will be his record sixth World Cup on the sidelines.

FIFA cited its disciplinary rules that allow for parts of a sanction to be probationary, although it is rare in cases of a three-match ban for two matches to be deferred.

In two cases judged by FIFA this month, players from Armenia and Burundi were banned for three games after earning red cards for acts of aggression in World Cup qualifiers, with neither receiving a reduction on probation.

"If Cristiano Ronaldo commits another infringement of a similar nature and gravity during the probationary period," FIFA said in a statement, then he will be banned for the remaining two matches of his suspension.

FIFA has disciplinary authority over national team competitions, with Portugal scheduled to play two friendly games in March, likely followed by one or two warmups in late May or early June. The 2026 World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico will kick off on June 11.

Football's world governing body said of its disciplinary verdict: "the three-match suspension is subject to appeal to the FIFA Appeal Committee."

It remained unclear who might have legal standing to challenge the verdict, and whether such a list might include the Republic of Ireland's football federation or Portugal's yet to be determined opponents at the World Cup.