Cristiano Ronaldo is cleared to play in the 2026 World Cup after FIFA issued a partially suspended ban for his recent red card. The football star was originally given a three-match suspension following his elbowing incident against Ireland, but two of those matches have been suspended under a one-year probation period. The third match was already served during Portugal’s qualification-clinching win over Armenia.
With this decision, Ronaldo will be available to play in Portugal’s opening World Cup match. The 2026 tournament will be his last chance to compete for the trophy, as the legendary player has confirmed it will be his final appearance in the competition.
The list of teams participating in the 2026 World Cup is still in the making, with more qualifying games to play. So far, 42 countries have already earned a spot in the tournament:
- Host nations (3): Canada, Mexico, United States
- Asia (7): Japan, Iran, Uzbekistan, South Korea, Jordan, Qatar
- Africa (9): Morocco, Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria, Ghana, Cape Verde, Senegal, South Africa, Ivory Coast
- America (6): Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador, Uruguay, Colombia, Paraguay, Panama, Curaçao, Haiti
- Europe (12): England, France, Croatia, Portugal, Norway, Germany, Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Spain, Austria, Scotland
- Oceania (2): Australia, New Zealand
Ronaldo turns 41 next year, so this will be his last chance to make history, not only by competing in his sixth World Cup but also by leading Portugal to their first-ever World Cup victory.
If you can’t make it to North America for the tournament, don’t worry. The 2034 FIFA World Cup will be held in Saudi Arabia, with its world-class stadiums offering a whole new experience. It’s definitely something to look forward to, so stay tuned for more updates on the road to the biggest football event on the planet!
