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Manchester United defender Lisandro Martínez has reportedly received encouraging news regarding his potential participation in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. The Argentine has been a consistent starter for his national team throughout the tournament, featuring in six of their seven matches so far.

Earlier this week, Martínez played 72 minutes in Argentina’s tense 2-1 victory over England in the semi-final, earning them a high-profile final clash against Spain at the New York New Jersey Stadium. Known affectionately as “The Butcher,” Martínez has been a key figure for Manchester United this year and has fully validated his inclusion in Lionel Scaloni’s World Cup squad.

He has developed a strong defensive partnership with Tottenham Hotspur’s Cristian Romero. However, controversy emerged after Argentina’s win over England when Martínez and several teammates celebrated with a banner referencing the Falkland Islands — a politically sensitive topic due to the 1982 conflict between Argentina and the United Kingdom.

According to Article 34.3 of the World Cup regulations, players are strictly forbidden from displaying political messages or slogans at any point before, during, or after a match. This incident has prompted calls for disciplinary measures, with some demanding that six Argentine players — including Martínez, Romero, and Giovani Lo Celso — be banned from the final. The UK government has also publicly urged FIFA to intervene.

In response, FIFA released a statement saying: “As is standard procedure, FIFA’s independent disciplinary committee is currently assessing the match reports and considering the relevant circumstances before deciding on potential further steps based on the FIFA disciplinary code.”

The situation has drawn comparisons to UEFA’s decision in 2024, when Spanish players Álvaro Morata and Rodri were handed one-match bans for chanting “Gibraltar is Spanish” after the Euro 2024 final victory over England. That precedent was cited by Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey, who called on FIFA to suspend all six Argentine players ahead of the World Cup final.

FIFA had previously fined Argentina in 2014 for unveiling a similar banner following a friendly against Slovenia. In the current case, the governing body’s disciplinary committee has been convened to investigate the matter, leading to concerns that Martínez and his teammates might miss the final. However, new reports suggest otherwise.

According to Spanish outlet COPE, the players involved in the incident are unlikely to be prevented from participating in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final. The report stated: “The regulations are clear-cut and will be enforced. The matter now rests with the FIFA Disciplinary Committee, which will determine the punishment.”

It further added: “However, no decision will be reached until the World Cup has ended, meaning those involved will be able to play in Sunday’s final against Spain without any issues, as Arancha Rodríguez has learnt.”

Meanwhile, Argentine publication Clarin reported that sporting suspensions appear improbable, explaining: “The consequences can range from a warning to fines imposed on the Argentine Football Association (AFA) or the players involved.”

Clarin added: “A sporting suspension appears, in principle, to be a less likely possibility and is generally reserved for cases considered particularly serious or repeated offences.”

Martínez, who has been instrumental in Argentina’s journey to the final, will now look to help his country lift another World Cup trophy. With his Manchester United contract entering its final year, his strong performances on the global stage could persuade INEOS to offer him a new deal soon.