FIFA is considering a significant change to its disciplinary rules ahead of the 2026 World Cup, proposing a “double amnesty” system aimed at preventing top players from missing crucial knockout matches due to yellow card accumulation.
The proposal comes as the tournament expands to 48 teams, increasing the number of matches required to reach the final. Under the current format, players risk suspension after accumulating two yellow cards across different rounds, with a single reset point after the quarter-finals.
Under the new system, FIFA is proposing two reset points: one at the end of the group stage and another after the quarter-finals. This would effectively give players a clean disciplinary slate heading into both the knockout rounds and the final stretch of the competition.
Officials say the move is designed to preserve the quality and appeal of the tournament’s biggest matches. With finalists now expected to play up to eight games instead of seven, the likelihood of key players being sidelined due to bookings has increased significantly.
Historical precedents have long fueled debate over the rule, including when Michael Ballack missed the 2002 final and Paul Gascoigne was ruled out of the 1990 final after a semi-final booking—moments that many argue diminished the spectacle of those matches.
If adopted, the revised system would limit suspensions to players who accumulate two yellow cards within a specific phase of the tournament, rather than across multiple rounds. FIFA believes this approach strikes a balance between maintaining discipline and ensuring fairness in an expanded competition.
However, critics warn that earlier amnesty resets could encourage more tactical fouling, as players may feel less constrained by the risk of suspension. FIFA, for its part, argues that the increased match load makes the current rules overly punitive.
A final decision is expected following ongoing FIFA Council meetings in Canada, as preparations intensify for the 2026 World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.