Argentina’s defeat to Spain in the 2026 World Cup final not only left the team with the disappointment of losing the title but also brought financial consequences for the Argentine Football Association (AFA) due to the red cards and incidents that occurred after the match.
Spain won 1-0 with a goal from Ferran Torres at the start of extra time. After the final whistle, tensions escalated and the situation ended with a confrontation involving Argentine midfielder Leandro Paredes.
Paredes was shown a straight red card after an altercation with Spanish players, including Eric García and Gavi. According to the report, referee Slavko Vinčić punished the incident, allowing FIFA to take disciplinary action.
Under FIFA’s 2026 Disciplinary Code, Paredes’ direct red card for aggression carries an initial $20,000 fine for the AFA. Additional penalties include a $15,000 fine for Enzo Fernández’s dismissal after receiving two yellow cards.
Argentina also received another $50,000 fine due to the accumulation of yellow cards shown to Lisandro Martínez, coach Lionel Scaloni, Cristian Romero, Leandro Paredes, and Alexis Mac Allister.
FIFA also imposed a $15,000 penalty for team misconduct, a sanction applied when five or more members of a national team receive disciplinary measures during the same match.
In total, the AFA will have to pay $100,000 in fines for the incidents that occurred during the final, while possible individual sporting sanctions against the players involved could be announced in the coming days.
