FIFA to introduce second phase

FIFA is reportedly set to change the rules around yellow card suspensions at the 2026 World Cup, in a bid to avoid players missing key knockout games.

According to reports from The Athletic and BBC, FIFA will add a second amnesty stage at this summer’s tournament, wiping away all yellow cards at the end of the group stage as well as after the quarterfinals.

The new rule is set to be adopted this week at the FIFA Council meeting in Vancouver.

Previously, the only amnesty stage came after the quarterfinal. That meant that a player would be suspended if they received total two yellow cards prior to their team’s game in the last eight.

But the 2026 World Cup will feature 48 teams for the first time and as a result, the knockout stage will begin with the Round of 32 instead of the Round of 16 like prior editions.

That has led to the second stage of yellow card amnesty, which means that players will only receive a suspension if they are yellow carded in two of three group stage matches, or in two matches out of the round of 32, round of 16 and quarterfinal.

The new regulation should result in fewer teams missing key players for World Cup knockout matches.