Players on notice at the World Cup: those who could miss the round of 32

The 2026 World Cup has already reached a historic total of eight red cards, an unprecedented figure after just the first two matchdays of the group stage. Among them was Almirón’s sending-off, the first for covering his mouth with his hand while speaking to an opponent. It was the first dismissal under one of the new rules introduced for this World Cup by IFAB and FIFA.

The tournament’s disciplinary regulations have also had a notable impact. A player who accumulates two yellow cards is suspended for one World Cup match. In a tournament where a team can play a maximum of eight matches, including the final, missing even a single game can be costly. As a result, players have been more cautious, with fewer protests and greater restraint when committing fouls. The message has been received.

Heading into the final group-stage matches, a total of 94 players are one booking away from suspension. If any of them receive another yellow card, they will miss their team’s potential first knockout-stage match.

Players on notice:

Spain: Pedri

Egypt: Fatouh, Attia, Lashin

Canada: Alistair Johnston, De Fougerolles, Cornelius

Morocco: Diop

South Africa: Sibisi, Mbatha

Ivory Coast: Kessié, Guela Doué, Seko Fofana

Ghana: Yirenkyi, Iñaki Williams

Cape Verde: Kastaneer, Juninho Bacuna, Gaari, Leandro Bacuna, Comenencia, Borges

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Lukic, Demirovic, Katic, Dedic, Dzeko

Croatia: Petar Sucic

Scotland: Andy Robertson, Curtis, Hickey, Mclean

Austria: Posch, Laimer, Sabitzer

Netherlands: Summerville, Depay, Van de Ven

Portugal: Bernardo Silva, Renato Veiga, Tomás Araújo, Semedo

England: Rice

Belgium: Lukaku, Castagne, De Cuyper

Australia: Souttar, Circati, Italiano, Bos

Sweden: Gudmundsson, Ayari, Bergvall

New Zealand: Singh, McCowatt

Switzerland: Zakaria, Elvedi

Czech Republic: Krejci

Saudi Arabia: Kanno, Al Amri, Salem Al Dawsari

South Korea: Kang In-Lee, Gihyuk Lee, Seungho Paik

Algeria: Zerrouki

Qatar: Gaber, Abunada, Fathy

Iran: Hajisafi, Ezatolahi

Uzbekistan: Khusanov

DR Congo: Pickel, Mbemba

Brazil: Douglas Santos, Roger Ibáñez, Casemiro

Argentina: Medina, Paredes

Colombia: Lerma, Lucumí, Mójica

Ecuador: Alcívar, Porozo

Paraguay: Galarza, Diego Gómez, Arce, Cáceres, Júnior Alonso

U.S.: Chris Richards, Tyler Adams, Balogun, Antonee Robinson

Mexico: Brian Gutiérrez

Uruguay: Bentancur, Mathias Olivera

Yellow cards are wiped clean after the group stage, and a new two-card accumulation cycle begins that runs until the end of the quarter-finals, when cautions are reset once again. This ensures that no player can miss a potential final because of an accumulation of yellow cards. However, a player can still be suspended for the final if they receive a red card in the semi-finals.

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