Leandro Paredes Hit with 10-Match Ban for 2026 World Cup Final Brawl

Ten matches. That's the number stinging most in the Argentine locker room, and it belongs to Leandro Paredes. But there's a silver lining amid the bad news: the AFA managed to keep those sanctions from being held over important official matches, allowing them to be served in friendlies right away instead.

All of this stems from the incidents that broke out just after the 2026 World Cup final, the match in which Spain lifted the trophy after defeating the Argentine national team. Right there on the pitch, with the sting of defeat still raw, a series of scuffles broke out that FIFA's Disciplinary Committee did not let slide.

The AFA filed a formal request for the suspensions to be served in "A" category friendlies and/or official matches, whichever comes first on the calendar. FIFA reviewed the request and gave it the green light, determining that it complied with current regulations. It's a massive difference for Scaloni: losing your key players for a World Cup qualifier or a Copa America match is nothing like losing them for a preseason friendly.

Who's Paying, and Why

Paredes was by far the most heavily punished. In addition to the 10-match suspension, he'll have to pay a fine of $90,000. The former Juventus, PSG and Roma midfielder was at the center of the tensest moment of the whole melee: he grabbed Eric Garcia by the neck and then went after Gavi, who ended up on the ground after the clash. Thiago Almada was also involved and picked up a one-match ban for his part in that same fight.

Nahuel Molina, meanwhile, was suspended for seven matches after he was seen striking Rodri amid the chaos. And the fallout didn't stop with the players: Roberto Ayala, an assistant coach under Lionel Scaloni, also received a three-match ban for shoving Dani Olmo.

Still, the AFA isn't treating the matter as closed. The association clarified that it is still waiting on the full grounds behind the Disciplinary Committee's rulings. Once it has those in hand, it plans to file appeals with FIFA's Appeal Committee. And if that doesn't work? There's still the option of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), the final avenue Argentine officials are prepared to pursue in defense of their players.

For now, what's certain is that Scaloni will be able to manage the absences during friendlies and won't have to go without his key pieces for matches that actually matter. A fight that, far from ending on the field that night, keeps producing new chapters in the front offices.