Cristiano Ronaldo is likely to feature as Portugal begin their World Cup campaign, despite picking up an almost costly red card in qualifying. The Portugal captain is fully expected to play in the opening Group K match against DR Congo at Houston Stadium in Texas on Wednesday evening.
Why Ronaldo Can Play Despite Red Card
The sending-off occurred during a qualification fixture against the Republic of Ireland in November 2025. Portugal suffered a surprising 2-0 defeat in Dublin. Ronaldo was dismissed in the 60th minute for an off-the-ball altercation with defender Dara O'Shea. After a pitchside VAR review, the referee issued a straight red card for an elbow strike.
The disciplinary committee originally hit the veteran forward with a severe three-match competitive ban. He immediately served the first match of that penalty during a subsequent qualifier against Armenia, which Portugal won 9-1. However, FIFA cleared the superstar for the World Cup by formally suspending the final two matches of his ban under Article 27 of the disciplinary code, which gives FIFA the right to commute or suspend bans. The body cited Ronaldo's clean disciplinary record.
Therefore, Ronaldo remains eligible to play as long as he avoids another serious infraction during a one-year probation period. A repeat offence would instantly trigger the remaining two-match suspension.
Portugal's World Cup Group Stage Fixtures
Following their opening game, Portugal will face Uzbekistan on June 23 and Colombia on June 27. Both matches are crucial for progression to the knockout stages.
