Argentina's Prestianni Looking at 2 World Cup Games on the Sidelines After FIFA Extends His Ban
Argentina forward Gianluca Prestianni is staring down the possibility of missing the defending champions' first two matches at this summer's World Cup. FIFA just extended his ban on Wednesday, a move that could sideline him right when the team needs to hit the ground running in North America.
How We Got Here
Back on February 17, Prestianni caught heat during a Champions League match while playing for Portugal's Benfica. He was accused of verbally abusing Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior. UEFA stepped in and slapped him with a six-match suspension after he admitted to making a homophobic remark, though he denied using a racial slur. The whole thing happened with his jersey covering his mouth, which meant UEFA couldn't definitively prove what exactly went down.
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Here's the thing: UEFA's ban was supposed to stay in European competitions. But on Wednesday, FIFA had other ideas. The Disciplinary Committee agreed to extend that six-match ban worldwide, meaning it now applies to international matches as well. Prestianni has already served one match of the suspension, with three games still suspended for a two-year period, but that leaves two actual matches he's got to sit out.
For Argentina, the timing is rough. The defending champs open Group J play on June 16 in Kansas City against Algeria, then face Austria on June 22 in Arlington, Texas, and Jordan on June 27, also in Arlington. That's a lot of football to play without a key forward potentially in the lineup.
What's Next
Prestianni's only appearance for Argentina so far has been a friendly in November against Angola. It's still unclear whether he'll even make the final roster for the 2026 World Cup. This ban just made that decision a whole lot more complicated for Argentina's coaching staff. Either way, this is a distraction the defending champions didn't need heading into the tournament.
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This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.