The 2026 FIFA North and Central America World Cup has produced its first ejection under a new rule banning the act of covering one's mouth while speaking.
Paraguay midfielder Miguel Almiron was immediately ordered off the field for speaking to an opponent while covering his mouth during Paraguay's second Group D match against Turkey, held at the Bay Area Stadium in San Francisco, California, on Friday.
With Paraguay leading 1-0 in the first half, a scuffle broke out between players from both teams after Paraguay forward Isidro Pitta attempted a rough tackle and then appealed to the referee that an opponent had stepped on his foot.
During the incident, Almiron spoke to a Turkish player while covering his mouth with his hand. After reviewing the scene through video assistant referee (VAR), the referee immediately ordered Almiron off the field.
FIFA strengthened the related rule starting with this tournament following an incident in a UEFA Champions League (UCL) match last February, when Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni covered his mouth and made a racist remark against Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior, drawing a suspension from the Union of European Football Associations. Under the rule, covering one's mouth while speaking during a confrontation with an opponent is now subject to immediate ejection.
