Cristiano Ronaldo faces the possibility of missing the opening fixtures of the 2026 World Cup after being sent off in Portugal’s 2–0 defeat to the Republic of Ireland on Thursday.
The Al Nassr striker was initially booked in the 61st minute for elbowing defender Dara O’Shea, but the caution was upgraded to a red card following a VAR review. The dismissal was the first of his international career, coming in his 226th appearance for Portugal, although he has been sent off 13 times at club level.
Under FIFA regulations, Ronaldo is already guaranteed a one-match suspension for violent conduct in competitive fixtures. The rules further allow for bans of at least three matches for actions deemed assault, including elbowing, meaning his availability for the start of the World Cup could be in doubt. Any suspension must be served in official matches and cannot be cleared in friendlies.
Portugal had entered the Dublin fixture needing a win to confirm qualification for the 2026 tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico. Instead, two goals from Troy Parrott earned Ireland the victory, delaying Portugal’s progress. Roberto Martínez’s side remains two points ahead of Hungary in Group F and can seal qualification with a win over Armenia on Sunday, which would secure Ronaldo’s place at a sixth World Cup.
Ronaldo had anticipated a hostile atmosphere at the Aviva Stadium, joking before the match that he hoped the crowd “won’t boo me too much” and adding that he would “try to be a good boy.” After the red card, he responded to jeers from the stands with claps and sarcastic thumbs-up gestures.
The incident adds another layer to the forward’s recent history with Irish supporters, following controversy in the reverse fixture in which he was accused of exerting undue influence on the referee moments before Rúben Neves scored a late winner.
