FIFA amnesty for Otamendi, he can face Algeria in the opener | OneFootball

Nicolás Otamendi had been sent off against Ecuador in the last round of the World Cup qualifiers and had to serve a one-match suspension, but FIFA cleared him following a request from the AFA.

Defender Nicolás Otamendi received great news this Friday morning because he will be able to play in Argentina’s opener against Algeria, in the first matchday of Group J at the 2026 World Cup, after being granted amnesty by FIFA following his red card against Ecuador in the final round of the qualifiers.

Otamendi will be available for the World Cup opener

The Benfica player had been shown a red card in September last year, at the end of the qualification campaign for the World Cup, when he brought down Enner Valencia, who was through on goal, near the edge of the box. Referee Wilmar Roldán sent him off without needing to consult VAR, marking the center back’s first dismissal with the Albiceleste.

As Argentina did not play another official match because the Finalissima scheduled for March was canceled, under the rules Otamendi had to serve the suspension in the first match Lionel Scaloni’s team played at the World Cup, which will be on June 16 at 10 p.m. in Kansas.

However, the Argentine Football Association (AFA) had submitted a request seeking amnesty, which FIFA accepted, and the 38-year-old footballer, who could join River after the World Cup, received notification this Friday.

“The Argentine Football Association, through its president Claudio Tapia, carried out proceedings before the FIFA Bureau so that Nicolás Otamendi could be eligible for the first match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, due to the sending-off against the Ecuador national team in the last match of the Conmebol South American qualifiers,” the AFA said in a statement when the process began. They also clarified that they had the support of South American Football Confederation president Alejandro Domínguez and Ecuador player Moisés Caicedo.

In this way, although Scaloni has not yet submitted the list of 26 called-up players, which can be presented until May 30, the coach said during the last FIFA window that he had the squad list “pretty clear” and, barring any setbacks, Otamendi will be there.

With 130 appearances and eight goals for the Argentina national team, the center back is shaping up to start in his fourth World Cup. It remains to be seen whom the coach chooses as his partner, since Cuti Romero will arrive short of match fitness due to an injury.

Argentina, the reigning world champion and two-time Copa América champion, tops Group J of the 2026 World Cup: it will face Algeria in its opener, then Austria on Monday the 22nd at 2 p.m. in the second matchday, and will close against Jordan on Saturday the 27th at 11 p.m.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.