Yellow alert: Which players from Norway and England are one booking away from missing the semifinal of the 2026 World Cup?

France and Spain safely negotiated the yellow-card minefield in their World Cup 2026 quarterfinal victories, securing a semifinal showdown – one I’d argue feels more like the ideal final - after defeating Morocco 2-0 and Belgium 2-1 respectively. None of the players who entered those matches one booking away from suspension picked up another caution, meaning Les Bleus and La Roja will have full rosters available from yellow-card accumulation in the last four.

Norway and England players walking tightrope

That leaves the spotlight on Saturday’s quarterfinal between England and Norway, where five players know another yellow card would end their hopes of playing in a potential semifinal against either Argentina or Switzerland. Under FIFA’s rules, accumulated yellow cards are wiped after the quarterfinals, so this is the last match in which players can be suspended for yellow-card accumulation.

A straight red would, however, mean that the player would be suspended, assuming FIFA don’t accept another integrity-questioning plea.

England have the biggest concern. Jude Bellingham, Declan Rice, Marc Guehi and Nico O’Reilly all head into the match carrying a yellow card from the knockout rounds. If any of them are booked against Norway and England progress, they would miss the semifinal.

Norway’s only player walking the disciplinary tightrope is winger Antonio Nusa. The 21-year-old has been one of the Scandinavian side’s brightest attacking threats during the tournament, but another caution would force him to watch a potential semifinal from the stands.

Expect clever substitutions if the game looks won.

England players one booking away from suspension

• Jude Bellingham
• Declan Rice
• Marc Guehi
• Nico O’Reilly

Norway players one booking away from suspension

• Antonio Nusa

All World Cup quarterfinalist players at risk

Every nation arrived at the quarterfinals in the tournament with at least one player just a booking away from a suspension.

• Norway: Antonio Nusa
• England: Jude Bellingham, Nico O’Reilly, Declan Rice, Marc Guehi
• Spain: Ferran Torres
• Belgium: Brandon Mechele
• Argentina: Gonzalo Montiel
• Switzerland: Granit Xhaka, Denis Zakaria, Miro Muheim

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