FIFA sanctions Argentine and Spanish players for brawl after 2026 World Cup final

FIFA's Disciplinary Committee has imposed significant sanctions on players from Argentina and Spain for incidents that occurred after the 2026 World Cup final. Leandro Paredes of Argentina faces a ten-match suspension, while his teammate Nahuel Molina has been banned for seven matches. Thiago Almada received a one-match ban, and former player Roberto Ayala, part of the coaching staff, was suspended for three matches.

In the Spanish camp, Gavi received a one-match suspension. These sanctions stem from the post-match altercation that followed Spain's 1-0 victory over Argentina in the tournament held across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Beyond player suspensions, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) has been fined $321,000 for various breaches of FIFA's Disciplinary Code. Furthermore, the AFA must host its next two home matches with spectator capacity limited to 50%.

FIFA stated that the committee conducted a rigorous analysis of the cases, which originated from incidents at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. The disciplinary proceedings were initiated on July 29.