The FIFA Disciplinary Committee has opened a procedure against several members of the Argentine national team and against the Spanish international Gavi for the incidents recorded at the end of the 2026 World Cup final, played between Spain and Argentina at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey (United States).
According to FIFA, the decision is made based on the report prepared by the designated ethics instructor, who sees sufficient indications to initiate a disciplinary file against several protagonists of the brawl that occurred after the final whistle.
Paredes, Molina, Almada, Ayala, and Gavi under investigation
The organization is investigating Nahuel Molina, to whom it attributes two alleged charges of assault —one completed and another in attempt—, in addition to unsportsmanlike conduct.
It has also opened a file against Leandro Paredes, for three alleged charges of assault, and against Thiago Almada, for an alleged case of unsportsmanlike conduct.
The investigation also reaches Roberto Ayala, a member of the coaching staff of the Argentine national team and assistant to Lionel Scaloni, for an alleged charge of assault.
On the part of the Spanish national team, FIFA is investigating Gavi for an alleged case of unsportsmanlike conduct during the altercations recorded after the conclusion of the match.
The implicated will be able to present their allegations before the Disciplinary Committee adopts a final resolution.
The AFA also faces a file
In addition to the individual actions, FIFA has initiated a disciplinary procedure against the Argentine Football Association (AFA) for possible violations of several articles of its Disciplinary Code.
Among them are possible infractions related to the making of statements unrelated to the sports field during an official event, inappropriate conduct, discrimination, and racist assaults, as well as issues related to the order and security of the matches.
In this last section, the Disciplinary Committee examines the discriminatory chants and gestures, delays in the start of matches, non-compliance with security and organization protocols, the display of messages considered inappropriate by the team and fans, as well as the throwing of objects from the stands in several matches of the Argentine national team.
The FIFA has not set a deadline to resolve the procedure, so the possible sanctions will be known once the phase of allegations and evaluation of the evidence concludes.