Paraguay’s Miguel Almiron was sent off in the World Cup after covering his mouth during an exchange with Türkiye’s Mert Mulder, triggering the first red card under FIFA’s new “mouth-covering” rule. The decision came after video review, left Paraguay with 10 pl
It lasted just seconds—but the impact could last for the rest of a World Cup.
During first-half stoppage time of the Group D match between Türkiye and Paraguay on Friday night, Paraguay midfielder Miguel Almiron and Türkiye midfielder Mert Mulder exchanged words after a foul near midfield. As tempers rose, Almiron covered his mouth while speaking to Mulder.
Mulder immediately appealed to referee Ivan Barton for punishment.
Barton went to video review and quickly ruled that Almiron would be shown a red card and ejected under FIFA’s new rule for this year’s World Cup, which gives officials the latitude to issue red cards when players cover their mouths during a confrontation.
Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro didn’t sound surprised—only resigned. “According to the law, if you cover your mouth you’re sent off. Red card,” he said. “There’s nothing I can do about that. Unfortunately, we can’t issue a new opinion on this.”
The red card meant Paraguay played the rest of the match with 10 players. Still, they held on and won 1-0 to clinch their group for the United States.
The game didn’t just end with a scoreline—it reopened the question of what this rule actually means in the heat of the moment. Paraguay’s next match is against Australia next week, and the suspension tied to the red card means Almiron will miss that contest.
Paraguay could still be in a strong position in Group D, but the path is no longer clean. If they lose to Australia. they could be knocked out of the tournament depending on how other third-place finishers across other groups turn out. The likelihood of advancement remains high—there is an 84% chance to advance—but it is not guaranteed.
That’s the twist at the center of this story: Paraguay succeeded in a match that cost them a player, yet now faces real uncertainty because the cost doesn’t end with the final whistle.
The new rule traces back to FIFA president Gianni Infantino pushing for it after an incident involving Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni, who tried to hide verbal insults directed at Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior in a Champions League game.
And Almiron’s name is already back in the spotlight for it. This was the second time in two games at the World Cup that he was carded under a new rule in place this year. In Paraguay’s opening match against the United States. video review overturned a yellow card that had been issued to Tim Ream and instead issued one to Almiron for diving.
On Friday night, the escalation was more severe. The same technology-driven review that changed the booking in the first match became the mechanism for a full red-card ejection here—an outcome that could decide whether Paraguay can keep moving with the midfielder who has already been swept into FIFA’s new. stricter interpretation of confrontation.
For now, Paraguay has a group-clinching win and a precarious next step. Almiron’s suspension is set. The rest will depend on how the rules are applied again— and on whether Paraguay can survive the week without him.
Miguel Almiron Paraguay Türkiye World Cup 2026 FIFA mouth-covering rule red card Ivan Barton video review Mert Mulder Gustavo Alfaro Gianni Infantino Gianluca Prestianni Vinícius Júnior