Lionel Messi’s key teammate Nicolas Otamendi might lose World Cup opener with Argentina after crimson card vs. Ecuador

Argentina has already secured its spot within the 2026 World Cup and is keen to defend the trophy received in Qatar in 2022. Nevertheless, Lionel Messi might already face a setback as veteran defender Nicolás Otamendi dangers lacking the match’s opening match after being despatched off towards Ecuador.

To shut out their CONMEBOL World Cup qualifying marketing campaign, La Albiceleste traveled to Guayaquil to face Ecuador on Matchday 18. The sport took a flip within the thirty first minute when Enner Valencia broke via on objective towards Emiliano Martínez, solely to be introduced down by Otamendi. Referee Wilmar Roldán instantly confirmed the crimson card, leaving Argentina with 10 males.

Past leaving his teammates shorthanded, Otamendi might now face suspension for the World Cup opener. For the reason that Ecuador conflict was Argentina’s last official match earlier than the match, questions shortly arose about whether or not his suspension would carry over and when he would serve it.

In line with Article 69 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code relating to “Carrying over match suspensions”: “Match suspensions imposed in relation to a sending-off issued towards a participant outdoors of a contest (separate match[es]) or not served in the course of the competitors for which they had been meant (elimination or the final match within the competitors) are carried over as follows: F) confederation competitions for consultant groups: carried over to the consultant staff’s subsequent official match.”

Nicolas Otamendi of Argentina fouls Enner Valencia of Ecuador during the South American FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier match between Ecuador and Argentina.

Nicolas Otamendi of Argentina fouls Enner Valencia of Ecuador in the course of the South American FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifier match between Ecuador and Argentina.

Underneath this rule, Otamendi would serve his suspension in Argentina’s subsequent official FIFA competitors match—not in a pleasant. This implies he could be unavailable for Matchday 1 of the 2026 World Cup.

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Messi, who was rested for the Ecuador match in settlement with head coach Lionel Scaloni, had handed the captain’s armband to Otamendi. After his dismissal, Rodrigo De Paul briefly wore it earlier than handing it over to goalkeeper “Dibu” Martínez, who captained Argentina for the primary time.

The Finalissima: Otamendi’s final hope

The Argentine FA might attraction to FIFA for leniency, however one other chance for Otamendi to serve his suspension earlier than the World Cup lies within the Finalissima. With uncertainty nonetheless surrounding the date and venue of the Argentina vs. Spain matchup, its scheduling might show essential.

If the Finalissima is performed in March 2026 and registered on FIFA’s Worldwide Match Calendar, the sport would depend as an official fixture. In that case, Otamendi would miss the showdown towards Spain however clear his suspension in time to be accessible for Argentina’s World Cup opener on June 11.

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