Overview
- Argentine outlets report FIFA has applied an amnesty that cancels Nicolás Otamendi’s one-match ban from his 2025 qualifying red card, clearing him for the Algeria opener.
- The Argentine FA said it formally asked the FIFA Bureau to lift the suspension, citing rules that allow red-card bans from qualifying to carry into the finals unless waived.
- Real Madrid fined Federico Valverde and Aurélien Tchouaméni €500,000 each after a locker-room altercation, with the club closing its internal case and imposing no sporting ban.
- Boca Juniors are monitoring goalkeeper Leandro Brey’s recovery for Saturday’s Apertura round of 16 against Huracán, and veteran Javier García will start if Brey is not fit.
- Alianza Lima lead Peru’s Apertura and plan to hold back captain Paolo Guerrero at kickoff against Sporting Cristal due to a back issue, using him as a second‑half option if needed.