If Gianluca Prestiani is selected for the World Cup squad, he could miss Argentina’s first two group games.
Published May 6, 2026
Argentine winger Gianluca Prestianni faces the prospect of missing the opening World Cup after FIFA extended his six-game ban for homophobic behavior with global implications.
“The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has decided to extend globally the six-match suspension imposed by UEFA on SL Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni,” a FIFA spokesperson said in a statement on Wednesday.
“The sanction has been extended in accordance with Article 70 of the FIFA Disciplinary Law.”
The Benfica player was suspended by UEFA for making a slur against Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior during February’s Champions League play-off match, which Real won 1-0.
The worldwide extension requested by UEFA means Prestianni will miss Argentina’s first two World Cup matches if selected.
The ban applies to UEFA club matches and international matches, but does not apply to friendlies or domestic league matches.
UEFA initially imposed a six-game ban for discriminatory behavior, with three of the matches serving as a probationary suspension. Prestiani had already served a provisional one-match suspension when he missed the second leg against Real Madrid.
However, the 20-year-old has limited international experience, making just one appearance for Argentina as a late substitute in a friendly against Angola in November.
Argentina opens the World Cup against Group J opponents Algeria on June 16, before playing Austria and Jordan.
