World football governing body FIFA has announced an update to its yellow card rule with the 2026 World Cup less than two months away.

The Zurich-based organization revealed that yellow cards accumulated at the group stage of the competition will no longer lead to a one-game suspension in the knockout phase, handing amnesty to players with two yellow cards after the third group stage match in the quadrennial Mundial.

This was proposed and adopted at FIFA’s ruling council on Tuesday, with FIFA making the decision public later.

FIFA tournaments accumulate red cads until after the quarter-final stage where subsequent yellow cards will not lead to a player missing the World Cup final.

However, the Gianni Infantino-led body revealed that an expansion of the tournament to 48 nations, and the need to ensure fewer players miss important matches in the knockout rounds led to the rule change.

“Reflective of the expanded format with an extra knockout round,” FIFA started, “the FIFA Council confirmed an amendment to the regulations for the FIFA World Cup 2026 whereby single yellow cards in the final competition will be canceled after the group stage and then again after the quarterfinals.”

FIFA introduced the yellow card amnesty after the quarter-final for the first time at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, 10 years after Michael Ballack missed the 2002 World Cup final for Germany who lost to champions Brazil.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be co-hosted y USA< Mexico, and Canada, from June 11 to July 19. (Daily Trust)

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