With a record 48 teams set to participate in the 2026 World Cup, the expanded format has prompted a change to tournament regulations. Reflecting the extra knockout round, the FIFA Council confirmed that single yellow cards will be cancelled twice: after the group stage and again after the quarter-finals.
Previously, single yellow cards were only cancelled once after the quarter-finals, with players who accumulated two yellows before that stage serving a one-match suspension. The revised system provides additional leniency for players in the expanded 104-match tournament, ensuring that more key players are available for the crucial knockout matches.
