{"id":11475,"date":"2026-07-20T11:24:19","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T06:24:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=11475"},"modified":"2026-07-20T11:24:19","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T06:24:19","slug":"argentinas-enzo-fernandez-becomes-world-cup-final-scapegoat-after-red-card","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/?p=11475","title":{"rendered":"Argentina&#8217;s Enzo Fernandez becomes World Cup final scapegoat after red card"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><script>\r\n  atOptions = {\r\n    'key' : '644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6',\r\n    'format' : 'iframe',\r\n    'height' : 90,\r\n    'width' : 728,\r\n    'params' : {}\r\n  };\r\n<\/script>\r\n<script src=\"https:\/\/www.highperformanceformat.com\/644b717812d811d6a1c1fc5b6ccd6fa6\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<br \/>\n<\/p>\n<div xmlns:default=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\">\n<p>Enzo Fern\u00e1ndez lived on both sides of the emotional coin in the World Cup.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module alignright\">\n\t<\/aside>\n<p>Five days ago, he was the hero who rescued Argentina with a stunning late equalizer in the semifinal against England. <\/p>\n<p>But on the sport\u2019s biggest stage, he went from savior to scapegoat in a matter of minutes.<\/p>\n<p>His red card in second-half stoppage time didn\u2019t just put Argentina in a precarious position down a man, it stripped the defending champion of its last realistic path to win the match, <a href=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/2026\/07\/19\/sports\/spain-wins-second-world-cup-title-as-they-deny-argentinas-repeat-bid\/\">ultimately falling to Spain in the 2026 FIFA World Cup final <\/a>1-0 in extra time.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cEnzo\u2019s sending off \u2026 I think the first yellow card could have been avoided by the referee, but it is what is,\u201d Argentina manager Lionel Scaloni said. \u201cOf course he wasn\u2019t thinking about booking him with a second yellow card. It\u2019s a World Cup Final and I think there\u2019s things that could have been avoided.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>After already struggling to create anything on offense against Spain\u2019s suffocating press, Argentina had failed to register a single shot in regulation. <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><button class=\"button button--modal-trigger\" aria-label=\"Open the image in a modal.\" data-modal-image=\"40033476\"><br \/>\n\t<default:svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"icon-plus\" fill=\"#fff\" viewbox=\"0 0 1033 1000\" width=\"1em\" height=\"1em\"><default:path d=\"M380 364V0h273v355h380v290H653v355H380V645H0V355h380v9z\"\/><\/default:svg><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<img style=\"aspect-ratio:1.49926794;display:block\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" data-modal-image=\"40033476\" width=\"885\" height=\"590\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/argentina-midfielder-enzo-fernandez-24-134952040.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Referee Slavko Vincic shows Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez a red card during the FIFA World Cup 2026 Final match against Spain.\" class=\"wp-image-40033476\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/argentina-midfielder-enzo-fernandez-24-134952040.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 3000w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/argentina-midfielder-enzo-fernandez-24-134952040.jpg?resize=300,200&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 300w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/argentina-midfielder-enzo-fernandez-24-134952040.jpg?resize=768,512&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 768w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/argentina-midfielder-enzo-fernandez-24-134952040.jpg?resize=1024,683&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1024w, 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360w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/argentina-midfielder-enzo-fernandez-24-134952040.jpg?resize=340,227&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 340w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/argentina-midfielder-enzo-fernandez-24-134952040.jpg?resize=320,213&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 320w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/argentina-midfielder-enzo-fernandez-24-134952040.jpg?resize=314,209&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 314w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/argentina-midfielder-enzo-fernandez-24-134952040.jpg?resize=306,204&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 306w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/argentina-midfielder-enzo-fernandez-24-134952040.jpg?resize=280,187&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 280w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/argentina-midfielder-enzo-fernandez-24-134952040.jpg?resize=260,174&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 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160w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/argentina-midfielder-enzo-fernandez-24-134952040.jpg?resize=144,96&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 144w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/argentina-midfielder-enzo-fernandez-24-134952040.jpg?resize=107,71&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 107w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/argentina-midfielder-enzo-fernandez-24-134952040.jpg?resize=93,62&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 93w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/argentina-midfielder-enzo-fernandez-24-134952040.jpg?resize=84,56&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 84w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/argentina-midfielder-enzo-fernandez-24-134952040.jpg?resize=60,40&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 60w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/argentina-midfielder-enzo-fernandez-24-134952040.jpg?resize=105,70&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 105w, 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https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/argentina-midfielder-enzo-fernandez-24-134952040.jpg?resize=120,80&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 120w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/argentina-midfielder-enzo-fernandez-24-134952040.jpg?resize=1200,800&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1200w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/argentina-midfielder-enzo-fernandez-24-134952040.jpg?resize=1038,692&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1038w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/argentina-midfielder-enzo-fernandez-24-134952040.jpg?resize=87,58&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 87w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/argentina-midfielder-enzo-fernandez-24-134952040.jpg?resize=50,33&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 50w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 885px) 100vw, 885px\"\/><figcaption>Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez (24) is shown the red card and sent off by referee Slavko Vincic during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final match between Spain and Argentina held at MetLife Stadium on Sunday July 19, 2026.<br \/><span class=\"credit\">Stefan Jeremiah for New York Post<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>As the game was headed to extra time, Argentina was hoping to survive and find one fleeting moment on the counterattack to steal victory from the jaws of defeat against Spain.<\/p>\n<p>Then Fern\u00e1ndez lost his composure.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"single__inline-module aligncenter wp-block-nypost-editor-primary-tag\">\n<\/aside>\n<p>In the 82nd minute, Fern\u00e1ndez was shown a yellow card for dissent after protesting a non-foul decision by Slovenian referee Slavko Vincic. <\/p>\n<p>It was a needless booking from one of Argentina\u2019s emotional leaders, but it would soon become more significant than anyone realized.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><button class=\"button button--modal-trigger\" aria-label=\"Open the image in a modal.\" data-modal-image=\"40033483\"><br \/>\n\t<default:svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"icon-plus\" fill=\"#fff\" viewbox=\"0 0 1033 1000\" width=\"1em\" height=\"1em\"><default:path d=\"M380 364V0h273v355h380v290H653v355H380V645H0V355h380v9z\"\/><\/default:svg><br \/>\n<\/button><br \/>\n<img style=\"aspect-ratio:1.49707602;display:block\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-modal-image=\"40033483\" width=\"883\" height=\"590\" src=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/spain-defender-pau-cubarsi-22-134966690.jpg?w=1024\" alt=\"Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez (24) fouls Spain defender Pau Cubarsi (22), sending Cubarsi airborne.\" class=\"wp-image-40033483\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/spain-defender-pau-cubarsi-22-134966690.jpg?quality=75&amp;strip=all 3021w, 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https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/spain-defender-pau-cubarsi-22-134966690.jpg?resize=322,215&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 322w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/spain-defender-pau-cubarsi-22-134966690.jpg?resize=660,441&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 660w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/spain-defender-pau-cubarsi-22-134966690.jpg?resize=90,60&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 90w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/spain-defender-pau-cubarsi-22-134966690.jpg?resize=120,80&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 120w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/spain-defender-pau-cubarsi-22-134966690.jpg?resize=1200,802&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1200w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/spain-defender-pau-cubarsi-22-134966690.jpg?resize=1038,692&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 1038w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/spain-defender-pau-cubarsi-22-134966690.jpg?resize=87,58&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 87w, https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/spain-defender-pau-cubarsi-22-134966690.jpg?resize=50,33&amp;quality=75&amp;strip=all 50w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 883px) 100vw, 883px\"\/><figcaption>Spain defender Pau Cubarsi (22) is fouled by Argentina midfielder Enzo Fernandez (24), resulting in a second-yellow card and Fernandez being sent off in the 90th minute of the 2026 FIFA World Cup Final. <span class=\"credit\">Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Ten minutes later, disaster struck. <\/p>\n<p>As Pau Cubars\u00ed chased a loose ball near midfield, Fern\u00e1ndez lunged into a reckless challenge that left Vincic with little choice but to show the Argentine midfielder a second yellow and in turn, a red card. Argentina was down to 10 men with stoppage time winding down and an additional 30 minutes of extra time still left to play.<\/p>\n<p>Fern\u00e1ndez walked slowly toward the tunnel as Spanish supporters erupted while thousands of Argentine fans stood silent inside MetLife Stadium, fully aware that the mountain in front of their team had suddenly become almost impossible to climb.<\/p>\n<p>Fern\u00e1ndez became just the sixth player ever sent off in a FIFA World Cup final, joining one of the tournament\u2019s most exclusive and infamous lists. <\/p>\n<p>Rather than being remembered for his thunderbolt against England that carried Argentina into the championship match, his tournament will forever include one of the defining mistakes of the final itself.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s unlikely Argentina, completely dominated by Spain all day long, would have won anyway, but Fern\u00e1ndez\u2019s one reckless challenge all but extinguished them.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<script async=\"async\" data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"https:\/\/pl30214220.effectivecpmnetwork.com\/9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\/invoke.js\"><\/script>\r\n<div id=\"container-9ab3d4df8a7e1a6171e16ddbf732cc19\"><\/div>\r\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Enzo Fern\u00e1ndez lived on both sides of the emotional coin in the World Cup. Five days ago, he was the hero who rescued Argentina with a stunning late equalizer in the semifinal against England. But on the sport\u2019s biggest stage, he went from savior to scapegoat in a matter of minutes. His red card in&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11476,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/nypost.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/2\/2026\/07\/newspress-collage-tibamrkn8-1784517863669.jpg?quality=75&strip=all&1784503585&w=1200","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11475","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-hub"],"brizy_media":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11475","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=11475"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11475\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/11476"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=11475"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=11475"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usnews-14267fa.ingress-comporellon.ewp.live\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=11475"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}