The group stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is coming to an end with 32 teams looking to secure their place in the next round of the competition.
This edition features an expanded 48 teams across 12 groups, with the top two from each group advancing to the new round of 32, along with the best eight third-placed teams.
With the league undergoing a revamp, certain adjustments have also been made to the booking rules to ensure fewer players are suspended for important knockout matches.
When will yellow cards be scrapped in FIFA World Cup 2026?
According to FIFA rules, players must serve a one-match ban if they receive two yellow cards in two different matches. In previous editions, yellow cards were abolished after the quarter-final.
This time, however, due to the extra knockout round, the few yellow cards will be wiped out after the group stage and again after the quarter-finals.
If a player has received two yellow cards in three matches in the group stage, he will miss the round of 32 if his country progresses.
Players at risk of missing the 32nd round of the World Cup
USA: Chris Richards, Antonee Robinson, Tyler Adams, Folarin Balogun
Netherlands: Micky van de Ven, Crysencio Summerville, Memphis Depay
Portugal: Nelson Semedo, Bernardo Silva, Renato Veiga, Tomas Araujo
Sweden: Yasin Ayari, Lucas Bergvall, Gabriel Gudmundsson
Belgium: Timothy Castagne, Maxim De Cuyper, Romelu Lukaku
Australia: Harry Souttar, Alessandro Circati, Jordan Bos, Jacob Italiano
Paraguay: Miguel Almiron, Junior Alonso, Matias Galarza, Alex Arce, Juan Jose Caceres, Diego Gomez
Austria: Marcel Sabitzer, Konrad Laimer, Stefan Posch
Argentina: Facundo Medina, Leandro Paredes
New Zealand: Sarpreet Singh, Callum McCowatt
Uruguay: Mathias Olivera, Rodrigo Bentancur
Cape Verde: Diney, Sidney Lopes Cabral
Iran: Saeed Ezatolahi, Ehsan Hajsafi
Saudi Arabia: Abdulelah Al Amri, Salem Aldawsari, Mohamed Kanno
Spain: Pedri
Curacao: Juninho Bacuna, Jurien Gaari, Livano Comenencia, Leandro Bacuna, Gervane Kastaneer
Ivory Coast: Seko Fofana, Franck Kessie, Guela Doue
Egypt: Ahmed Fatouh, Marwan Ateya
Ecuador: Jordy Alcivar, Jackson Porozo
Colombia: Johan Mojica
DR Congo: Pulpit Mbemba
Ghana: Caleb Yirenkyi, Inaki Williams
Uzbekistan: Abdukodir Khusanov, Odiljon Hamrobekov
Iraq: Zaid Tahseen, Amir Al Ammari
England: Declan Rice
Algeria: Ramiz Zerrouk
If any of the aforementioned players receive a yellow card in their final group stage matches, they will miss the round of 32 if their country progresses.
Published on June 25, 2026
