FIFA announced a major change to the yellow card rule for the upcoming 2026 World Cup on Wednesday, April 29. According to new rules, players will get an extra amnesty for yellow cards after the group stages and the quarterfinals in the 23rd edition of the tournament.

The 2026 World Cup has expanded to 48 teams and an extra knockout round, the Round of 32, making it the biggest event in sports history. To ensure no player will miss out on the latter stages of the event due to a single yellow card, the world football governing body has decided to scrap the earlier rule.

A player has to serve a one-match ban after receiving two yellow cards in different games. Earlier in the World Cups, only one amnesty was allowed after the group stages. Now, with another amnesty before the quarterfinal, no player will miss the semifinals and the final due to a two-yellow-card suspension.

"Reflective of the expanded format with an extra knockout round, the FIFA Council confirmed an amendment to the Regulations for the World Cup 2026 whereby single yellow cards in the final competition will be cancelled after the group stage and then again after the quarter-finals," FIFA said in a statement.

The decision to ease off suspension rules is likely to be welcomed by both players and fans at the 2026 World Cup in North America, starting on June 11.

FIFA World Cup 2026 format

FIFA has expanded the 20226 World Cup to a 48-team event for the first time in history. With the addition of 16 new slots, the tournament now features a slightly different format.

Forty-eight teams are divided into 12 groups of four teams each. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the standard knockout stages, the Round of 32. The eight best third-place teams will also join the Round of 32. The knockout stages will follow the old one-match elimination format throughout the final.

So, every team will play at least three matches in the 2026 World Cup. A win earns 3 points, and a draw earns 1 point in the group stages. If points are equal, the goal difference will be considered to rank the teams, followed by goals scored and world rankings.

The 2026 World Cup will feature a record-breaking 104 matches, spanning across the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

Also read: FIFA World Cup 2026: India yet to secure broadcast rights as the sporting spectacle nears