Almirón Makes World Cup History with First Red Card Under New Mouth-Covering Rule

Miguel Almirón became the first player to be sent off under football's new mouth-covering regulation after receiving a red card during Paraguay's FIFA World Cup Group D clash against Türkiye on Friday. The incident occurred in the third minute of first-half stoppage time when Almirón appeared to cover his mouth while speaking to Türkiye defender Mert Müldür during a confrontation on the pitch.

Following a brief VAR review, Salvadoran referee Ivan Barton issued a straight red card, applying a recently introduced law approved by the International Football Association Board (IFAB). The new regulation states that any player who covers their mouth while speaking during a confrontational exchange with an opponent may be dismissed. The measure was introduced to prevent offensive or discriminatory remarks from being concealed from officials and cameras.

The rule emerged following controversy during the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League involving Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni and Real Madrid star Vinícius Júnior. Under the updated guidelines, players are still permitted to cover their mouths during friendly or non-confrontational conversations.

However, doing so during an argument or altercation can result in an automatic red card. Almirón's dismissal marked Paraguay's third red card in FIFA World Cup history. The nation's previous World Cup send-offs came in 2002 when Carlos Paredes and Roberto Acuña were both dismissed.

The red card also became the seventh of the tournament, the highest total recorded at a World Cup since 2014. Earlier in the match, Matías Galarza scored what was reported as the fastest goal of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, finding the net just 64 seconds after kick-off. His strike ultimately proved decisive as Paraguay held on to secure a 1-0 victory despite playing much of the match with ten men. The result ended Türkiye's hopes of progressing to the knockout stages, while Paraguay strengthened its position in Group D.

Miguel Almirón red card mouth-covering rule