The Paraguayan Miguel Almirón became the first player expelled from the 2026 World Cup under the so-called Prestianni Lawthe new regulations that allow showing direct red card to footballers who cover their mouth with their hand or shirt.
The action occurred in third minute of added time of the first half of the Group D match between Paraguay and Türkiye, played in Santa Clara, California. The referee sanctioned the Guaraní attacker after observing that he put his hand to his moutha behavior that FIFA decided to punish with the maximum disciplinary sanction in this edition of the World Cup.
The historic expulsion was decreed by the Salvadoran referee Iván Arcides Barton Cisneros, one of the most experienced whistlers in Concacaf. The center back showed the red card to Miguel Almirón in added time of the first half, leaving the first application of the so-called Prestianni Law in the history of the World Cups.
The expulsion came in the middle of a match that until then was favorable for Paraguay. La Albirroja was just ahead of the 64 seconds of play thanks to a goal Matías Galarza, the fastest score of the 2026 World Cup so far.
The Atlanta United midfielder’s goal surpassed the mark by seven seconds that had been established hours before by the Moroccan Ismael Saibari, who had scored at minute and 11 seconds against Scotland.
However, the Paraguayan advantage took a backseat to an episode as unusual as it is historic: the first red card of the 2026 World Cup came through the application of a rule that is just beginning to make its way into international football.