FIFA Confirms New Yellow Card Rule at World Cup to Reduce Suspensions
FIFA has approved a new rule for the 2026 World Cup that annuls single yellow cards after the group stage and after the quarter-finals, reducing player suspensions in knockout matches. This adjustment addresses the expanded tournament format and helps keep players on the field. FIFA also announced a 15% increase in financial distribution to all 48 participating teams.
FIFA has adjusted yellow card rules at the World Cup to ensure fewer players are suspended for important knockout matches, by annulling single yellow cards after the group stage and after the quarter-finals.
An additional yellow card amnesty – clearing a player's disciplinary record twice during the expanded tournament in North America – was proposed at Tuesday's meeting of the FIFA Council.
FIFA later issued a statement approving the change.
“Reflecting the expanded format with an additional knockout round, the FIFA Council confirmed a regulation amendment for the FIFA World Cup 2026 according to which single yellow cards in the official tournament will be annulled after the group stage and after the quarter-finals,” the statement said.
In previous World Cups, players faced a one-match suspension if they received yellow cards in two different matches, but single yellow cards had been annulled in previous tournaments after the quarter-finals. That ensured no player missed the final because of a yellow card in the semi-final.
The expanded 48-team World Cup format, which includes an additional round of 32, led FIFA to consider measures to help keep players on the field.
FIFA clears the disciplinary records of players with one yellow card after the three-match group stage, allowing them to start the knockout round with a clean slate. The second amnesty after the quarter-finals applies to players who received one yellow card in the earlier three knockout rounds and whose team advanced to the semi-finals.
FIFA also announced on Tuesday an increase of 15% in the financial distribution for all 48 participating World Cup teams, totaling $871 million US, equivalent to over $18 million per team.
The new figures include an increase in preparation fees from $1.5 million to $2.5 million per team and an increase in qualification prizes from $9 million to $10 million.
The World Cup will take place from June 11 to July 19 in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
