FIFA sanctions Argentina players and officials over World Cup final incidents

FIFA has imposed sanctions, including playing bans and fines, on several Argentina players and officials following disturbances that occurred after the 2026 World Cup final against Spain in July.

Leandro Paredes received a 10-match ban and a $90,000 fine. Nahuel Molina was handed a seven-match ban and a $90,000 fine. Thiago Almada and Pablo Martin Paez Gavira each received a one-match ban and a $30,000 fine. Additionally, Argentina's assistant coach Roberto Ayala was banned from accompanying the team and fined $30,000.

The Argentine Football Association (AFA) was fined $321,000 for multiple violations of FIFA's Disciplinary Code. These included using the sporting event for non-sporting demonstrations, violation of team discipline, and engaging in discrimination and racist abuse, citing discriminatory chants and gestures by supporters. The AFA was also penalized for violating match order and security regulations.

As a consequence of these violations, the AFA must limit spectator capacity to 50 percent for its next two home matches. FIFA stipulated that $10,000 of the total fine must be invested in a plan to combat discrimination. A portion of the sanction, a one-match ban and a $100,000 fine for the AFA, was suspended under a probationary period.

FIFA informed the involved parties of the decisions and provided a ten-day window to submit a formal request for the decision with legal reasoning. This action follows a period of increased scrutiny on football's governing bodies regarding conduct and disciplinary measures.