Argentina's Prestianni Could Miss 2 World Cup Matches After FIFA Makes Ban Official

Argentina just got some bad news heading into this summer's World Cup. FIFA has extended Gianluca Prestianni's suspension to have worldwide effect, which means the 20-year-old forward could miss the first two matches of the tournament in North America.

Here's what went down: Back in February, Prestianni was playing for Portugal's Benfica in a Champions League match against Real Madrid when he verbally abused Vinicius Junior. UEFA suspended him for six matches, and while Prestianni denied using a racial slur (he held his jersey over his mouth during the incident, so UEFA couldn't prove it), he admitted to making a homophobic remark. Now FIFA has decided to apply that ban globally, not just in European competitions.

What the Ban Actually Means for Argentina

Prestianni has already served one match of the six-game suspension, with three games suspended for a two-year period. The decision leaves Argentina's coaching staff in limbo about whether to even include him on the roster for the 2026 World Cup in North America. His only appearance for Argentina so far has been a friendly in November against Angola.

If he does make the squad, the timing is brutal. Argentina opens Group J against Algeria on June 16 in Kansas City, then faces Austria on June 22 in Arlington, Texas, before taking on Jordan on June 27, also in Arlington. Missing the first two matches would force the defending champions to navigate a critical opening stretch without him.

The Road Ahead

The real question now is whether Argentina decides to bring Prestianni to North America at all. Missing your opening two World Cup games is a serious blow, especially for a team that's trying to defend its title. His path back to the national team has to start with following through on the consequences of what happened in February.

This article was created with AI assistance and reviewed by Seattle On Tap editorial staff. Always verify information with official team sources.