FIFA has amended the yellow card rules for the 2026 World Cup, introducing two amnesties to ensure fewer players are suspended for key knockout matches. Single yellow cards will now be cancelled after the group stage and again after the quarterfinals.

The proposal was discussed at a FIFA Council meeting on Tuesday, and later approved in an official statement. The change reflects the expanded tournament format, which includes an extra round of 32.

Under the new regulation, a player's disciplinary record will be wiped clean after the group stage if they have only one yellow card. A second amnesty will apply after the quarterfinals for players who received a single yellow card during the knockout rounds and whose teams advance to the semifinals.

Previously, players faced a one-match ban for accumulating two yellow cards in different games, with amnesty only after the quarterfinals. The new rule ensures no player misses the final due to a yellow card in the semifinal.

The 48-team World Cup, featuring a round-of-32 knockout stage, prompted FIFA to review the rules to keep key players on the pitch. The changes aim to balance discipline with entertainment.

FIFA also announced a 15% increase in financial resources for all 48 participating teams, totaling $871 million, or just over $18 million per team. Preparation funding rose from $1.5 million to $2.5 million, and qualification funding from $9 million to $10 million.

The 2026 World Cup will be held from June 11 to July 19 in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.

Source: www.aljazeera.com