FIFA proposes yellow-card rule change to reduce World Cup suspensions FIFA is preparing to tweak World Cup rules on yellow cards to ensure fewer players are suspended for key knockout matches in North America.
An extra amnesty for yellow cards, wiping player disciplinary records twice during the expanded tournament, will be proposed at a meeting of FIFA’s ruling council on Tuesday, people familiar with the plan told The Associated Press. They spoke on condition of anonymity as the decision is not yet official.
At the World Cup, players must serve a one-match ban if they are shown yellow cards in two different matches. In previous editions, yellow cards were cancelled after the quarterfinal stage.
That ensured no player would miss the final through suspension only because of receiving a yellow card in the semifinal.
ALSO READ: World Cup 2026 prize money could rise further as FIFA holds talks with associations
The expanded 48-team World Cup format, which includes an extra round-of-32 knockout stage, led to a FIFA review aimed at helping keep players on the field.
FIFA proposes to clear the disciplinary records of players who have one yellow card after the three-match group stage, allowing them to start the knockout phase afresh.
A second amnesty after the quarterfinals will apply to players who receive one yellow card during the three previous knockout rounds and whose teams advance to the semifinals.
Published on Apr 28, 2026
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FIFA is preparing to tweak World Cup rules on yellow cards to ensure fewer players are suspended for key knockout matches in North America.
An extra amnesty for yellow cards, wiping player disciplinary records twice during the expanded tournament, will be proposed at a meeting of FIFA’s ruling council on Tuesday, people familiar with the plan told The Associated Press. They spoke on condition of anonymity as the decision is not yet official.
At the World Cup, players must serve a one-match ban if they are shown yellow cards in two different matches. In previous editions, yellow cards were cancelled after the quarterfinal stage.
That ensured no player would miss the final through suspension only because of receiving a yellow card in the semifinal.
ALSO READ: World Cup 2026 prize money could rise further as FIFA holds talks with associations
The expanded 48-team World Cup format, which includes an extra round-of-32 knockout stage, led to a FIFA review aimed at helping keep players on the field.
FIFA proposes to clear the disciplinary records of players who have one yellow card after the three-match group stage, allowing them to start the knockout phase afresh.
A second amnesty after the quarterfinals will apply to players who receive one yellow card during the three previous knockout rounds and whose teams advance to the semifinals.
Published on Apr 28, 2026
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