Chelsea's Moises Caicedo facing 2026 World Cup ban after red card in front of his mum

Moises Caicedo was sent-off in front of his mother as Ecuador downed Argentina with the Chelsea midfielder now set to miss the start of his country's World Cup bid.

The 23-year-old's evening started with a hugely emotional moment but it quickly nosedived as he was dismissed five minutes into the second-half with his red card potentially hampering his World Cup dream next summer.

Before kick-off the Chelsea star's mother, Carmen, walked out on the pitch to deliver the matchball to the referee as she lapped up the atmosphere from the 59,000 inside the Estadio Monumental. She blew kisses to the crowd and headed back towards the tunnel before her son ran over.

They shared an embrace before kissing each other on the cheeks as Caicedo readied himself to take on the World Cup holders, but his outing failed to hit the hour mark. Caicedo was already on a yellow card when he caught Nicolas Gonzalez with a stray boot in a challenge.

Despite appeals to referee from the home side Wilmar Roldan brandished a second yellow. It now means the midfielder set to miss Ecuador's first match at the 2026 World Cup through suspension.

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Caicedo wasn't the only man to be given his marching orders as both sides finished with ten men after Nicolas Otamendi was sent-off in the first half. Ecuador were able to secure an impressive victory, snapping a run of four successive goalless draws, with Enner Valencia's penalty deep into first-half stoppage time proving to be the winner.

It means Ecuador finish the South American World Cup qualifying campaign in second spot, behind Argentina who have won the last three major tournaments.

Alongside Ecuador and Argentina four others nations - Colombia, Uruguay, Brazil and Paraguay - have all guaranteed their places at next summer's tournament in North America.

Caicedo will hope to head to the World Cup after claiming more honours with Chelsea. Last term he helped them gain a spot in the Europa Conference League and qualify for the Champions League. The Ecuadorian has been a standout performer in the early weeks of the season with the Blues still unbeaten.

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