FIFA World Cup 2026 will see a key rule change for yellow cards. The rule for yellow card has been changed to reduce player suspensions during the all-important knockout stages of the tournament.Â
FIFA approved on Tuesday an extra amnesty for yellow cards, which will wipe a player’s disciplinary records twice during the tournament, according to a report by ESPN.
The change was introduced in response to the tournament’s expanded format. The FIFA World Cup 2026 will feature 48 teams, a significant increase from the 32 that competed in previous editions. This expansion has also led to the addition of an extra knockout round, prompting the governing body to adjust its rules to better suit the longer and more demanding competition structure. Â
Under the new rule, single yellow cards picked up during the group stage will be wiped clean before the start of the knockout rounds. This allows players to enter the round of 32 without carrying over bookings.
A second reset will take place after the quarterfinals. Players who have received only one yellow card across the knockout stages up to that point will have their records cleared, ensuring they are not suspended for the semifinals.
In past, players were handed a one-game ban after accumulating two yellow cards in separate matches. In previous editions of the World Cup, disciplinary records were cleared only after the quarterfinals to prevent players from missing the final due to a semifinal booking.
With the tournament now featuring more matches, FIFA’s updated approach is designed to keep more players available for decisive fixtures while maintaining disciplinary balance.
The 2026 World Cup will be held from June 11 to July 19 and will be co-hosted by US, Canada, and Mexico.
Essential Business Intelligence,
Continuous LIVE TV,
Sharp Market Insights,
Practical Personal Finance Advice and
Latest Stories — On NDTV Profit.
