World Cup: FIFA considering new yellow card amnesty rules

FIFA is considering changes to its suspension rules for accumulated yellow cards ahead of the 2026 World Cup, aimed at reducing the risk of players missing key knockout matches.

The proposal would introduce a second amnesty stage, with all yellow cards wiped at the end of the group phase and after the quarter-finals. Under current regulations, bookings are only cleared after the quarter-finals.

The expanded 48-team format for the 2026 FIFA World Cup introduces an additional knockout round, meaning teams must play more matches to reach the latter stages. As it stands, players risk suspension after accumulating two yellow cards across five games leading up to the quarter-finals.

FIFA is concerned that without adjustments, more players would be at risk of suspension, potentially ruling them out of decisive fixtures such as semi-finals.

The proposed rule would maintain the two-yellow-card suspension threshold but reset bookings at two key points:

This means players would only face suspension if they receive the following:

Two bookings in the three group matches, or

Two bookings across the round of 32, round of 16 and quarter-finals

Rather than increasing the suspension threshold to three yellow cards, FIFA believes introducing two cut-off points is a fairer solution. It reduces the “tightrope” effect for players while preserving disciplinary standards.

The proposal is set to be discussed at a FIFA Council meeting in Vancouver. If approved, the changes will apply to the 2026 tournament, co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.

The move reflects FIFA’s broader effort to adapt regulations to the demands of an expanded World Cup while ensuring top players remain available for the competition’s biggest moments.