The Argentine Football Association says FIFA has approved a change to the way suspensions imposed on several Argentina players will be served, in a new development linked to the incidents that followed the 2026 World Cup final. The adjustment affects Leandro Paredes, Nahuel Molina, and Thiago Almada, whose punishments were handed down after the disorder that broke out once the match ended.
Under the revised system, the suspension period will now count only official A-level international friendlies or official CONMEBOL matches, with the earliest fixtures taking precedence. That means FIFA official competitions will not be counted toward serving the bans, shortening the overall time required for the players to complete their suspensions.
Change in How the Suspensions Are Counted
FIFA Approves Argentina’s Request
The Argentine Football Association said FIFA accepted its request to change how the suspensions of Paredes, Molina, and Almada are applied. According to the association, only A-level international friendlies or official CONMEBOL matches will count toward the bans, and the matches will be counted in chronological order.
In practical terms, this means the suspensions will expire sooner, since only a limited set of matches will be included. FIFA’s official competitions will not be counted toward the suspension period.
Other Sanctions Still Under Appeal
The Argentine association said it will continue to appeal other sanctions tied to the same case, including financial fines and restrictions on crowd attendance at Argentina’s home matches. The issue therefore remains open, with further legal and administrative steps still possible.
Background to the 2026 World Cup Final Incident
Disorder After the Final
Argentina lost the world title to Spain 1-0 after extra time, with Ferran Torres scoring the decisive goal. After the final whistle, however, the atmosphere turned chaotic as Argentina players and some Spanish players became involved in altercations during Spain’s celebrations.
FIFA sanctioned three Argentina players, along with assistant coach Roberto Ayala, over the incidents. Leandro Paredes received a 10-match ban, Nahuel Molina seven matches, Thiago Almada one match, and Ayala was suspended for three matches.
What the Decision Means
The new ruling does not erase the punishments, but it does change how they will be served. By limiting the count to specific friendly and CONMEBOL fixtures, FIFA has effectively reduced the time needed for the bans to run their course.
That gives the affected players a clearer and potentially quicker path back to national team availability, depending on the match schedule.
Ongoing Debate Over Discipline After the Final
A Broader Disciplinary Fallout
The case highlights the disciplinary fallout from the 2026 World Cup final, where the focus was not only on the result but also on post-match conduct. The sanctions remain part of the wider consequences of that final, which has already generated debate across the football world.
Conclusion:
FIFA’s decision to change how Argentina player suspensions are served marks another step in the fallout from the 2026 World Cup final. The suspensions for Paredes, Molina, and Almada will now be counted only in specific official friendlies or CONMEBOL matches, shortening the time needed to complete them. Argentina continues to appeal the remaining sanctions, including fines and crowd restrictions, leaving the case open for further developments.
