FIFA SLAPS ARGENTINA WITH FINES, BANS OVER WORLD CUP FINAL

 

July 19, 2026; East Rutherford, New Jersey, U.S.; Argentina's Leandro Paredes clashes with Spain's Gavi next to assistant coach Walter Samuel. Mandatory Credit: James Lang-Imagn Images

A 10-match suspension for midfielder Leandro Paredes was one of several sanctions FIFA imposed against Argentina on Friday for their actions in last month's World Cup final loss to Spain.

The FIFA Disciplinary Committee also fined Paredes $90,000 for sparking a post-match brawl after Spain's 1-0 victory in extra time on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.

Argentina teammates Nahuel Molina (seven-match suspension, $90,000 fine) and Thiago Almada (one match, $30,000) and team official Roberto Ayala (three matches, $30,000) and Spain midfielder Gavi (one match, $30,000) also were disciplined.

FIFA also fined the Argentinian Football Association (AFA) $321,000 for various violations, including using a sports event for demonstrations of a non-sporting nature; team misconduct; and discriminatory chants and gestures by its supporters. Argentina was ordered to invest $100,000 of their fine in a plan to combat discrimination.

Argentina must also play their next two home matches with a spectator capacity limit of 50%, although one of the two matches and $100,000 of the fine are suspended during a probationary period.

Paredes, 32, who plays professionally with Argentina's Boca Juniors, received a red card after the loss to Spain when he charged Spain defender Eric Garcia, grabbed him by the throat and knocked him to the turf. Video from the post-match scrum appeared to show Molina and Ayala throwing punches at opposing players.

The "demonstrations of a non-sporting nature" occurred when several Argentina players unfurled a banner about the Falkland Islands after their semifinal win against England. The banner read, "The Falklands are Argentine" and referenced the United Kingdom's 1982 war with Argentina over possession of the islands.

--Field Level Media

HOW BAFANA BAFANA CAN STILL QUALIFY FOR 2026 WORLD CUP

After FIFA docked points. Bafana drops three points, losing their top spot in Group C to Benin but how can they qualify for the World Cup?

Bafana head coach Hugo Broos. Image: @BafanaBafana/X

Bafana Bafana were docked points for fielding an ineligible player during their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Lesotho.

Teboho Mokoena of South Africa was meant to serve a one-match suspension in that match, which Bafana won 2-0; however, he featured, which then saw FIFA get involved. In their ruling, FIFA overturned Bafana’s win, and the match is now recorded as a 3-0 victory for Lesotho.

“The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has declared the match in question to have been forfeited… SAFA has also been ordered to pay a fine of CHF 10,000,” read an official FIFA statement.

HOW CAN BAFANA QUALIFY FOR NEXT YEAR’S WORLD CUP?

Bafana drops three points, losing their top spot in Group C to Benin. Both South Africa and Benin have 14 points, but the West Africans have a superior goal difference.

Bafana’s task is simple: win all matches by a big margin, and they qualify for the World Cup. Hugo Broos’ men play Zimbabwe and Rwanda at home next month, which will add more pressure on them like never before.

A 3-0 win over the Warriors and another 3-0 victory against Rwanda should be enough, given Benin’s advantage against South Africa is only a single goal.

The good news for Bafana fans is that Benin will play their final two qualifiers away from home. They face Rwanda before their anticipated encounter with Nigeria, which could decide which team finishes second in the group, assuming Bafana wins their remaining two matches convincingly.

Bafana are in a good position to still qualify for the World Cup, but anything less than a win against Zimbabwe could make things more complicated.

The South African Football Association (SAFA) have lodged an appeal over FIFA’s decision, which could add another twist should Bafana fail to qualify for the World Cup. 

- Eliot Mahlase