Where Is Ronaldo?’ Fans Outcry Forces FIFA To Delete 2026 World Cup Poster

‘Where Is Ronaldo?’ Fans Outcry Forces FIFA To Delete 2026 World Cup Poster

By Admin 

FIFA has deleted its first promotional poster for the 2026 FIFA World Cup from social media following widespread criticism from fans, after the campaign artwork failed to include Cristiano Ronaldo one of the most iconic players in the sport’s history.

The poster, unveiled across FIFA’s official X and Instagram accounts, featured stylized portraits of players representing all 42 qualified nations. Despite showcasing global stars such as Lionel Messi and Kylian Mbappé, the only Portuguese player included in the composition was Bruno Fernandes, leaving Ronaldo absent from the design.

The omission quickly sparked intense criticism online, with fans questioning how the world football governing body could overlook the most followed athlete on Instagram and one of the most decorated players of all time.

The controversy was heightened by the fact that the 2026 tournament is expected to be Ronaldo’s final World Cup appearance. Speaking at the Tourise Summit in Riyadh earlier this year, the 40-year-old confirmed his intention to retire from the tournament stage afterward, saying: “Definitely, yes. I will be 41 years old and I think this will be the moment in the big competition.”

Following a surge of negative comments on its platforms, FIFA removed the poster without issuing any official explanation. It remains unclear whether the omission was intentional, a design oversight or part of a broader creative strategy gone wrong.

The incident adds to a growing list of recent design missteps in global football promotions, including a widely-criticized shirt launch earlier this year that omitted the tournament logo.