FIFA has authorized the Argentina national team to serve disciplinary suspensions for three of its players in friendly matches. This agreement, confirmed this week, allows Leandro Paredes, Nahuel Molina, and Thiago Almada to return to the squad much sooner than originally scheduled in the official calendar. The news was first reported by the Mexican outlet Record MX.
The sanctions stemmed from an incident during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final, where Argentina lost 1-0 to Spain on July 19. The FIFA Disciplinary Committee imposed a 10-match ban on Paredes, a 7-match ban on Molina, and a 1-match ban on Almada. Under standard FIFA statutes, these punishments must be served in official competitions, which would have left La Albiceleste without three key players for a substantial part of the qualifying campaign.
How did the AFA secure this change?
The Argentine Football Association (AFA) submitted a formal written request to FIFA. In it, they asked for the suspensions to be served in friendly matches classified as 'Class A'. FIFA reviewed the petition and approved it in full. This decision represents significant relief for the coaching staff, who can now count on the players returning in a shorter timeframe.
The approval comes as Argentina sits top of its World Cup qualifying group with 9 points from three wins in three games. The team has scored 8 goals and conceded just one, giving them a +7 goal difference. They also hold a 5-point lead over Austria, their closest challenger. You can view the full table on our standings page.
What does this mean for Argentina's schedule?
The change drastically accelerates the availability of the sanctioned players. Without this authorization, they would have been sidelined for several months of official competition. Now, the AFA can schedule high-level friendlies for Paredes, Molina, and Almada to serve their bans. This allows for a smoother reintegration into a squad currently on a run of four wins in its last five matches (LWWWW).
Planning these friendlies will be key. The coaching staff must find opponents that meet FIFA's requirements for the matches to be valid. Meanwhile, the team prepares for its upcoming official fixtures, which you can track on our fixtures calendar.
Will there be an appeal to reduce the sanctions?
Yes. The AFA is awaiting the full legal reasoning behind FIFA's ruling to file a formal appeal. The appeal has a dual aim: to reduce the number of suspended matches for the players and to lessen the administrative penalties imposed on the AFA itself.
If the appeal is not successful within the FIFA Appeals Commission, the AFA will take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) as a last resort. This legal process could take time, but the authorization to serve bans in friendlies already mitigates the immediate impact. The early availability of the players is critical for a team looking to maintain its flawless qualifying pace.
The manager will now have more options for rotation and keeping the squad fresh. Squad depth is a major asset in a long campaign. To see the full state of the roster, visit our squad section. FIFA's decision solves an immediate problem and gives Argentina tactical breathing room as they continue their path towards defending the world title.
