Portugal found itself plunged into an unexpected scenario after its defeat against Ireland, a match which should have quietly sealed qualification for the 2026 World Cup. The evening took a much heavier turn when Cristiano Ronaldo, emblematic captain and candidate for a sixth World Cup, received a direct red card. A few months before the tournament, the possibility of a first match played without him is starting to worry the federation and the supporters.
An expulsion with potentially serious consequences
The central question now concerns the actual duration of the suspension. The Portuguese Federation has confirmed that no offer of leniency is guaranteed and that a detailed file has been sent to FIFA to limit the sanction to a single match. Ronaldo’s gesture, an elbow on Dara O’Shea after a hold in the area, appears in the images retained by the disciplinary commission. And if the verdict goes beyond one match, it could deprive the Seleção of its captain at the start of the World Cup, with the added uncertainty of not yet knowing the opponent for the first match.
The issue goes far beyond the simple sporting framework. Ronaldo has made this sixth World Cup a personal goal for months. The idea of missing the inaugural meeting would be a symbolic blow for a player who continues to shape his legacy in the selection. The FPF thus insists on his exemplary behavior during more than 200 matches with Portugal and on the exceptional nature of this expulsion to support its request for clemency.
Portugal: towards a first match without CR7?
Portugal plays against the schedule
This affair comes at a time when direct qualification is not yet completely assured. The missed match against Ireland delayed plans, and the Federation knows that a World Cup started without its central figure would also pose an image problem. In the worst case scenario, Portugal could even inherit a top opponent from the opening of the tournament, which makes Ronaldo’s absence even more problematic.
FIFA’s decision, expected soon, could therefore have a major impact on Portuguese preparation. In the meantime, the country is holding its breath: seeing the World Cup open without Cristiano Ronaldo would be a scenario that no one had anticipated, and that the Seleção still hopes to avoid.
