FIFA is reportedly considering changes to yellow card suspension rules for the 2026 World Cup in a bid to make the competition fairer for players.
According to reports, the proposed review will be discussed at a FIFA Council meeting scheduled to take place in Vancouver later this week.
Under the current system, a player who accumulates two yellow cards before the quarter-finals is automatically suspended for the next match. However, with the expanded 48-team format and increased number of matches at the 2026 tournament, FIFA is concerned that the rule could lead to more players missing crucial games.
To address this, FIFA is proposing to reset or “wipe” yellow cards twice during the competition once after the group stage and again after the quarter-finals. This would allow players to start afresh at those stages without carrying earlier bookings forward.
Under the new proposal, players can still face suspension for receiving two yellow cards, but only within specific phases of the tournament. For instance, a player would need to pick up two bookings during the group stage to miss a match, or accumulate two cards within the knockout rounds between the last 32 and quarter-finals.
FIFA believes the adjustment would help reduce the likelihood of key players missing major fixtures, particularly the semi-finals.
Elijah Adeyemi
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