FIFA has handed down a series of heavy punishments following the chaotic scenes that erupted after Argentina’s defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final, with Leandro Paredes receiving the most severe sanction.
The FIFA Disciplinary Committee confirmed on Friday that Paredes has been suspended for 10 international matches and fined $90,000 for his involvement in the post-match confrontation.
Argentina teammate Nahuel Molina has also been hit with a significant punishment, receiving a seven-match suspension and the same $90,000 fine.
What happened after the World Cup final?
The confrontation took place immediately after the final whistle at New York New Jersey Stadium on July 19, shortly after Spain had beaten Argentina to become world champions.
As Spain’s substitutes entered the pitch to celebrate, tensions between the two teams quickly escalated. Reuters reported that Paredes shoved Spanish midfielder Gavi to the ground, helping trigger a wider confrontation involving players and members of both squads.
FIFA subsequently opened disciplinary proceedings against several individuals. Paredes faced three counts relating to assault, while Molina faced two assault allegations as well as a separate case concerning unsporting behaviour.
Argentina players receive heavy suspensions
Following its investigation, FIFA announced the following sanctions:
- Leandro Paredes: 10-match suspension and $90,000 fine.
- Nahuel Molina: Seven-match suspension and $90,000 fine.
- Thiago Almada: One-match suspension and $30,000 fine.
- Roberto Ayala: Three-match suspension and $30,000 fine.
Spain midfielder Gavi was also punished for his involvement, receiving a one-match suspension and a $30,000 fine for unsporting behaviour.
The suspensions will apply to the players’ upcoming matches for their respective national teams, meaning Paredes and Molina could now miss a significant portion of Argentina’s post-World Cup schedule.
Argentina FA fined $321,000
The punishments were not limited to the players involved in the final.
FIFA also fined the Argentine Football Association a total of $321,000 for several disciplinary breaches committed during the World Cup.
Those violations included team misconduct, discriminatory chants and gestures from supporters, security issues and the use of a sporting event for demonstrations of a non-sporting nature.
One of the incidents involved some Argentina players displaying a banner reading “Las Malvinas Son Argentinas” following their semi-final victory over England.
FIFA also ordered Argentina to play their next two home matches with attendance restricted to 50% of stadium capacity. However, part of that punishment, including one of the two restricted-attendance matches and $100,000 of the fine, has been suspended subject to a probationary period.
FIFA further ruled that $100,000 of the AFA’s financial penalty must be invested in a programme designed to combat discrimination.
Argentina can appeal the decision
The sanctions represent a major disciplinary blow for Argentina following a World Cup campaign that ended in disappointment and controversy.
Paredes’ 10-game suspension is particularly significant and will keep the midfielder out of international action for an extended period unless the punishment is reduced.
However, the case may not yet be completely closed. FIFA confirmed that the decisions remain subject to appeal, while the parties have ten days to request the full written reasoning behind the Disciplinary Committee’s rulings.
For Argentina, the fallout from the 2026 World Cup final will therefore continue long after the tournament itself has ended.
