2026 World Cup red card and suspension rules, explained
· Yahoo Sports
The 2026 World Cup produces some of the most amazing football, and sometimes that means things can get very intense.
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With the competition at its highest and the chance to win a title within sight, many athletes in the tournament go all out, putting their bodies on the line for their country to gain an advantage. As a result, there can be moments when extra contact arises, and referees have to step in to regulate it.
Viewers watching in the stands and at home may see an official display a red card on the pitch if excessive contact is made. What does it mean when a player receives a red card? Can a player face a suspension for accumulating a red card? Here's everything you need to know.
USA TODAY explains the red card (and suspension) rules for the 2026 World Cup:
What is a red card in soccer?
A red card means the player is done for the match. His team cannot bring anyone in to replace him. So, for the rest of that game, his team plays with 10 men. He also automatically sits out the team’s next match, no matter what the next round 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 2026 World Cup red card rules
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.
In his team's game against Turkey, Paraguay midfielder Miguel Almirón became the first player to be red-carded for covering his mouth during a World Cup game.
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 the video replay system overturn a red card?
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.
If the red card stands on the field, teams can still appeal to FIFA’s disciplinary committee after the match to try to get the suspension wiped from a player's record.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2026 World Cup red card and suspension rules, explained