FIFA has extended Gianluca Prestianni’s ban at the start of the World Cup after a special request from UEFA.
FIFA has announced that it has extended the ban given to Gianluca Prestianni after a request from UEFA.
As teams finish up the 2025/26 season, players and fans are already excited about the World Cup starting this summer in North America.
This year, a record 48 countries will compete in 12 groups of four teams each. The tournament kicks off with co-hosts Mexico playing South Africa at Estadio Azteca on June 11.
Many top players will be there, with 104 matches held across 16 venues in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.
However, some big names won’t be able to play due to injury, like Liverpool’s Hugo Ekitike and Real Madrid’s Rodrygo.
Now, another player, Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni, has learned he’ll miss part of the World Cup, too. FIFA confirmed a worldwide ban that will keep him out of Argentina’s first two games if he’s selected for their squad.
This comes two weeks after UEFA gave Prestianni a six-game suspension, three of which were on probation, for verbally abusing Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior during a Champions League match. Vinicius claimed the insults were racist, but Prestianni denies this.
UEFA asked FIFA to extend the ban globally, and FIFA agreed, making the ban count in the World Cup as well.
“The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has decided to extend the six-match ban imposed by UEFA on Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni to have worldwide effect,” FIFA said in a statement.
It’s still not clear if Argentina’s coach Lionel Scaloni will pick Prestianni for the team defending their World Cup title.
If he does, Prestianni won’t be able to play in Argentina’s opening match against Algeria on June 17 in Kansas City or against Austria five days later in Arlington, Texas.
But he can come back for the final group game against Jordan, who are playing in their first World Cup, on June 28, also in Arlington.
If Prestianni doesn’t make the squad, he will serve the rest of his ban in a UEFA competition during the 2026/27 season.
Also, a new rule has been confirmed for the World Cup: players who cover their mouths while talking to an opponent will be sent off. This rule was approved by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) at a FIFA meeting in Vancouver, Canada.