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FIFA plans a second yellow card reset for the 2026 World Cup, aiming to reduce suspensions in the expanded 48-team tournament and keep key players available.
(Credit: AFP)
FIFA is preparing a tweak to its yellow card rules ahead of the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup — one that could significantly impact player availability in key matches.
According to reports from BBC Sport and The Athletic, football’s governing body is considering introducing a second “amnesty” point for accumulated yellow cards.
If approved, bookings would be wiped not only after the group stage (as is currently the case) but also after the quarter-finals.
The proposal is tied closely to the tournament’s new format. The 2026 edition will expand from 32 to 48 teams and include an additional knockout round (round of 32), increasing the total number of matches a finalist could play.
Under existing rules, players risk suspension after picking up two yellow cards across multiple games, meaning the chances of missing a crucial knockout fixture are higher in a longer tournament.
FIFA’s thinking is simple: more matches shouldn’t automatically mean a greater risk of bans for relatively minor infractions. Rather than raising the suspension threshold to three yellow cards, the governing body appears to favour introducing two reset points, which it believes would be a fairer solution.
If implemented, players would need to be booked in two of the three group-stage matches to face a suspension. A similar threshold would apply across the early knockout round — from the round of 32 through to the quarter-finals. After that stage, records would reset again, ensuring players don’t miss the semi-finals or final due to earlier cautions.
The proposal is expected to be discussed at a FIFA Council meeting in Vancouver this week, where a final decision could be made.
The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, runs from June 11 to July 19.
April 28, 2026, 10:48 IST
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