Cristiano Ronaldo’s night turned sour in Dublin as Portugal suffered a 2-0 defeat to the Republic of Ireland in 2026 World Cup qualifying, with the 40-year-old superstar receiving a red card that could jeopardize his participation in the start of the tournament.
The Portugal captain was dismissed in the second half for elbowing Irish defender Dara O’Shea, with Portugal already trailing at the Aviva Stadium. The incident came a day after Ireland manager Heimir Hallgrimsson had expressed concerns about Swedish referee Glenn Nyberg officiating the match. Hallgrimsson later admitted he may have unsettled Ronaldo psychologically during the contest.
Ronaldo will definitely miss Portugal’s upcoming qualifier against Armenia due to the mandatory one-match suspension. However, FIFA regulations stipulate that violent conduct, including elbowing, could lead to a three-game ban. If applied, Ronaldo could miss the first two group-stage matches at the 2026 World Cup. The final decision will be made by the FIFA Disciplinary Committee.
As he left the field, Ronaldo reportedly spoke to Hallgrimsson, who said: “He complimented me for putting pressure on the referee. His red card was the result of his own actions, not mine — unless I got into his head.”
Portugal coach Roberto Martinez defended Ronaldo, emphasizing his discipline record. “He’s never been sent off in 226 games. The red card was harsh given how he was being held and pushed in the box. The elbow appeared worse on camera than it actually was. We accept the decision, but yesterday’s comments about referee influence left a bitter taste.”
While Ronaldo struggled, Republic of Ireland striker Troy Parrott starred for the hosts. Parrott scored in the 17th minute and doubled the lead just before halftime, securing a memorable 2-0 victory. He praised Ireland’s defensive organization, saying it prevented Portugal from replicating their 1-0 win in Lisbon last month.
Ireland still has a chance to finish second in Group F and must defeat Hungary in Budapest to remain in contention. Portugal, previously in a comfortable position, must now beat Armenia to confirm their World Cup qualification.
Elsewhere in European qualifying, France booked their place in North America with a 4-0 win over Ukraine, thanks to a Kylian Mbappé double, supported by Michael Olise and Hugo Ekitike. Norway moved closer to qualification with a 4-1 victory against Estonia, highlighted by Erling Haaland’s goals. However, Italy’s win over Moldova delayed Norway’s confirmation, requiring an extraordinary result in their final match in Italy.
