Particle.news
Download on the App Store

FIFA Weighs Second Yellow-Card Amnesty for 2026 World Cup

The change aims to limit bans created by an extra knockout round in the expanded tournament.

Overview

  • FIFA’s council, which meets Tuesday in Vancouver, is set to consider a plan to wipe yellow cards after the group stage as well as after the quarterfinals.
  • The plan keeps the two-yellow suspension and would split accumulation into the three group games and the first three knockout rounds.
  • A player would be suspended only by receiving two cautions in the group stage or two across the last 32, last 16, and quarterfinals.
  • The change is intended to reduce the chance a key player misses a knockout match in a 48-team event with an extra Round of 32.
  • BBC Sport and The Athletic reported the plan as a proposal, and final approval would still rest with the FIFA Council.