FIFA extend Gianluca Prestianni ban for start of World Cup after exceptional UEFA request

FIFA has confirmed that it has extended the ban handed to Gianluca Prestianni following a request from UEFA.

As teams across the world complete the final fixtures of the 2025/26 season, players and fans are already starting to look ahead to the World Cup ahead of it kicking off across North America this summer.

A record 48 countries will compete in the tournament, split into 12 groups of four teams, with co-hosts Mexico facing South Africa in the opening fixture at Estadio Azteca on June 11.

Some of the biggest names in the football will be present to compete at the competition which will be played across 104 matches played across 16 venues in Canada, Mexico, and the United States.

However, there will also be several major players that will be absent from the World Cup with the likes of Liverpool's Hugo Ekitike and Real Madrid winger Rodrygo among those ruled out by injury.

And now another player has learned that he will be absent for the start of his country's World Cup campaign after FIFA confirmed a global ban for Prestianni that will rule the Benfica winger out of two World Cup games should he be a part of Argentina's squad.

The decision comes two weeks after UEFA imposed a six-game ban, three of which were deferred on probation, on Prestianni for his verbal abuse of Real Madrid's star Vinicius Junior in the Champions League.

Prestianni covered his mouth with his jersey while using the insult which Vinicius has alleged were racist, a claim that Prestianni has denied.

UEFA later submitted a request to apply the ban beyond European competitions, which FIFA has obliged by extending the ban to the World Cup.

"The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has decided to extend the six-match ban imposed by UEFA on Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni to have worldwide effect," a FIFA statement read.

Of course, it remains to be seen if Prestianni will be selected by Lionel Scaloni as he prepares an Argentina squad to defend their World Cup title.

If he is, he will be unavailable to feature in Argentina's opening match against Algeria on June 17 in Kansas City or the meeting with Austria five days later in Arlington, Texas.

Prestianni will however be able to return for the final group match against World Cup debutant Jordan on June 28, again in Arlington.

Should he miss out on a spot in Scaloni's squad he will serve the rest of his ban in a UEFA-organised European competition in the 2026/27 season.

It has been confirmed that players who cover their mouths when confronting an opponent will be sent off at the World Cup as part of a new directive.

The rules was unanimously approved by officials from IFAB (the International Football Association Board) at a FIFA congress in Vancouver, British Columbia.