World Cup first as Almiron sent off for covering mouth

The 2026 World Cup witnessed an unprecedented moment as Paraguay midfielder Miguel Almiron became the first player sent off under football's new rules banning players from covering their mouths during games. The red card came in Paraguay's victory over Turkey, with Almiron dismissed after he was seen covering his mouth on the pitch. The rule, introduced to prevent players from hiding conversations from cameras and officials, had been in place for the tournament but had not resulted in a sending-off until now. Footage of the incident shows Almiron being shown a red card by the referee, sparking confusion among teammates and fans. The Paraguay captain had to be escorted off the field as his side held on to win. The decision is likely to reignite debate over the strictness of the new regulation, which some players and pundits have criticised as overly harsh. For now, Almiron's name will be recorded in World Cup history for an entirely unwanted reason.