Cristiano Ronaldo is expected to avoid missing any matches at the men's World Cup after FIFA imposed a three-match ban for violent conduct during a qualifier. The ban stems from an incident where Ronaldo swung an arm and struck Ireland defender Dara O'Shea with an elbow during Portugal's 2-0 loss in Dublin earlier this month.
FIFA's disciplinary committee judged the action as violent conduct, but two of the three matches are deferred for a one-year probation period. Ronaldo has already served a mandatory one-match ban during Portugal's final qualifier, a 9-1 win over Armenia that secured the team's place in the World Cup.
FIFA cited its disciplinary rules allowing parts of a sanction to be probationary, a rare move for a three-match ban. The decision means Ronaldo is likely to be available for Portugal's World Cup campaign.
Separately, FIFA announced changes to the World Cup draw, rewarding the four highest-ranked teams—Spain, Argentina, France, and England—with placement in separate sections of a seeded tournament bracket. This tennis-style format aims to maintain competitive balance in the expanded 48-team tournament, ensuring top teams avoid each other until the semifinals if they finish top of their groups.
The draw procedure marks a shift from previous World Cups, where knockout paths were determined by group placement. The final draw is scheduled for December 6 AEDT in Washington, with pots already revealed.
