In the qualifying tournament for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico, the Portugal national team lost to Ireland with a score of 0:2.
In the 59th minute of the game, Portugal national team forward Cristiano Ronaldo received a straight red card for elbowing an opponent. Initially, the main referee issued only a warning, but the VAR system deemed that punishment insufficient. After reviewing the incident on video, the referee changed his decision and showed Ronaldo the red card.
This is the first dismissal for the star Portuguese player in 226 matches for the national team in his professional career. Ronaldo will miss the final qualifying match against Armenia, and in the event of Portugal qualifying and a more serious disciplinary punishment, he may also miss the start of the 2026 World Cup.
Portugal leads Group F of the World Cup qualifiers with 10 points. Hungary is in second place with 8 points. Ireland and Armenia occupy the third and fourth spots, respectively.
