Paraguay's Almiron Receives First Red Card of North American World Cup

In the 2026 FIFA North American World Cup, the first red card was issued for an act of 'covering the mouth.'

Paraguay midfielder Miguel Almiron received a red card on June 20 during a group stage match against Turkey at the Bay Area Stadium in San Francisco, California. The incident occurred when he covered his mouth while speaking to an opposing player during a confrontation.

With Paraguay leading 1-0 just before halftime, a clash ensued after Paraguayan forward Isidro Pita protested a rough tackle to the referee, leading to a confrontation between players from both teams. Almiron was seen covering his mouth while addressing an opposing player. The referee confirmed the action via video review (VAR) and promptly issued a red card.

Earlier this year, FIFA introduced new regulations in response to incidents of racist remarks during UEFA Champions League matches. The rules classify covering one’s mouth while speaking to an opponent as an attempt to conceal racist or insulting behavior, warranting a red card.

This red card marks the first application of this regulation in a World Cup match. Paraguay was leading 1-0 at halftime but will have to continue the second half with only ten players.