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The 2026 World Cup final is upon us with Spain and Argentina battling on July 19 to determine soccer's world champion.
Argentina is trying to repeat while Spain is out for its second-ever World Cup title after winning its first in 2010.
The 2026 tournament has featured 13 straight red cards, more than the previous three World Cups combined.
Here's what to know about yellow and red cards:
A yellow card is a warning. A rough foul, time wasting, arguing with officials or other infractions can draw a yellow card. A player does not leave the game after getting yellow card. The card, however, stays on their record and a second one can have more severe consequences.
Coaches, substitutes and other bench personnel can also be given yellow cards.
Relive the World Cup with commemorative book!
A player who gets a second yellow in the same game is immediately sent off, and his team finishes the match with 10 men. A suspension kicks in for the following match, no matter the round. The team will start the next game with a full 11 men, but that specific player is banned from the game.
A red card means the player is done for the day. His team cannot bring anyone in to replace him. So, for the rest of that game, his team plays with 10 men. He also sits out the team’s next match automatically, no matter what round it is.
FIFA’s disciplinary committee then reviews the situation and can add more games to the suspension or issue a fine if the offense was serious enough.
A player can get a red card in two ways. He can earn it outright for something serious like a dangerous foul, violent conduct, spitting, biting, offensive language or denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity. Or, he can get two yellow cards in the same game, which automatically triggers a red and sends him off the field.
FIFA added two brand-new reasons a player can be sent off this summer, both inspired by ugly incidents in recent months.
The first targets players who cover their mouths during confrontations. The rule was triggered by a February Champions League match in which Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni covered his mouth with his jersey while directing abuse at Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior, making it impossible for officials to verify what was said. FIFA responded by giving referees the authority to issue a red card to any player who covers his mouth during a confrontation.
The second new rule targets walkoffs. If a player deliberately leaves the field to protest a referee’s call, he can now be sent off. The rule also covers coaches or team officials who encourage players to walk off. It was prompted by a January Africa Cup of Nations final in which Senegal’s players left the field for nearly 15 minutes to protest a penalty call.
Yes. Soccer’s video review system, known as VAR (video assistant referee), allows officials to take a second look when a referee may have made a clear mistake on a red card. Play stops, the VAR team reviews the footage and the referee can go to a screen on the side of the field to watch the replay and change the call.
New for 2026 is that now VAR can also step in when a player is wrongly sent off for a second yellow card. If the red card stands on the field, teams can still appeal to FIFA’s d
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: World Cup red card, yellow card and suspension rules for 2026
Continue reading...
Argentina is trying to repeat while Spain is out for its second-ever World Cup title after winning its first in 2010.
The 2026 tournament has featured 13 straight red cards, more than the previous three World Cups combined.
Here's what to know about yellow and red cards:
What is a yellow card in soccer?
A yellow card is a warning. A rough foul, time wasting, arguing with officials or other infractions can draw a yellow card. A player does not leave the game after getting yellow card. The card, however, stays on their record and a second one can have more severe consequences.
Coaches, substitutes and other bench personnel can also be given yellow cards.
Relive the World Cup with commemorative book!
How do yellow card accumulations lead to suspensions?
A player who gets a second yellow in the same game is immediately sent off, and his team finishes the match with 10 men. A suspension kicks in for the following match, no matter the round. The team will start the next game with a full 11 men, but that specific player is banned from the game.
What is a red card and what happens when a player gets one?
A red card means the player is done for the day. His team cannot bring anyone in to replace him. So, for the rest of that game, his team plays with 10 men. He also sits out the team’s next match automatically, no matter what round it is.
FIFA’s disciplinary committee then reviews the situation and can add more games to the suspension or issue a fine if the offense was serious enough.
A player can get a red card in two ways. He can earn it outright for something serious like a dangerous foul, violent conduct, spitting, biting, offensive language or denying a clear goal-scoring opportunity. Or, he can get two yellow cards in the same game, which automatically triggers a red and sends him off the field.
New red card rules at the 2026 World Cup
FIFA added two brand-new reasons a player can be sent off this summer, both inspired by ugly incidents in recent months.
The first targets players who cover their mouths during confrontations. The rule was triggered by a February Champions League match in which Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni covered his mouth with his jersey while directing abuse at Real Madrid star Vinicius Junior, making it impossible for officials to verify what was said. FIFA responded by giving referees the authority to issue a red card to any player who covers his mouth during a confrontation.
The second new rule targets walkoffs. If a player deliberately leaves the field to protest a referee’s call, he can now be sent off. The rule also covers coaches or team officials who encourage players to walk off. It was prompted by a January Africa Cup of Nations final in which Senegal’s players left the field for nearly 15 minutes to protest a penalty call.
Can VAR overturn red cards?
Yes. Soccer’s video review system, known as VAR (video assistant referee), allows officials to take a second look when a referee may have made a clear mistake on a red card. Play stops, the VAR team reviews the footage and the referee can go to a screen on the side of the field to watch the replay and change the call.
New for 2026 is that now VAR can also step in when a player is wrongly sent off for a second yellow card. If the red card stands on the field, teams can still appeal to FIFA’s d
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: World Cup red card, yellow card and suspension rules for 2026
Continue reading...
