World football governing body FIFA has handed down severe punishments to Argentina following incidents after their 2026 World Cup Defeat to Spain at Metlife stadium in the United States, banning four players and fining the Argentine Football Association $121,000. The sanctions target midfielder Leandro Paredes and defender Nahuel Molina for their roles in a post-final brawl, with Paredes receiving a 10-match ban and Molina a 7-match ban.
According to FIFA’s disciplinary committee, the confrontation broke out on the pitch immediately after Spain defeated Argentina to lift the trophy in America. Paredes was singled out as a central figure in the melee, leading to the mammoth 10 game suspension. Molina was also found culpable for escalating the incident and will miss seven international matches. FIFA said the bans apply to all official senior national team fixtures.
Two other players were also sanctioned with one-match suspensions. Midfielder Thiago Almada and Pablo Martín Páez Gavira were each handed a single game ban for their involvement. FIFA did not specify the exact nature of their roles, but stated that all four players breached the code of conduct relating to violence and unsporting behavior at the end of the tournament.
In a separate charge, the Argentina FA was fined $121,000 over fan and player conduct earlier in the competition. FIFA cited the display of a Falklands Islands banner by Argentina players after their semi-final victory over England, as well as cases of discrimination and racist abuse by supporters during the tournament. The governing body said it would not tolerate political provocations or discriminatory behavior in stadiums.
The punishments will be a major blow for Argentina as they prepare for World Cup qualifiers and upcoming international friendlies, with Paredes and Molina set to miss a large chunk of the campaign. For football fans who followed the drama in the United States closely, the ruling is another reminder of FIFA’s tough stance on crowd trouble and political displays. The Argentina FA has 10 days to appeal both the player bans and the fine.
