FIFA Considers Resetting Yellow Cards After Group Stage and Quarter-Finals for 2026 World Cup

FIFA is considering introducing amendments to the disciplinary rules for the 2026 World Cup to reduce the impact of player suspensions due to accumulated yellow cards.

The proposal, which the FIFA Council will discuss during its meeting in Vancouver, Canada, today, Tuesday, includes nullifying yellow cards issued to players at two crucial stages of the tournament: specifically after the group stage and the quarter-finals.

The new proposal aims to minimize the likelihood of players missing knockout matches due to accumulated warnings. If approved, it would represent a significant shift in the World Cup's disciplinary regulations for the tournament hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Furthermore, the expanded World Cup format, which will feature 48 teams for the first time in history, will increase the competition's difficulty due to the addition of another knockout round, the Round of 32.