The last 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup has now been confirmed after an entertaining Round of 32.
There were some shocks as Germany and the Netherlands crashed out to Paraguay and Morocco respectively, while Cape Verde nearly made history by pushing Argentina incredibly close.
The Round of 16 now gives players a chance to push their nation into the quarter-finals of the World Cup, but 18 stars must be wary of being overly aggressive in pursuit of the last eight as a single yellow card will see them banned.
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FIFA amendment to yellow card rule currently puts 18 stars at risk of one-match ban
Before the World Cup changed to a 48-nation tournament this summer, the previous rule for the 32-team edition was that two yellow cards picked up before or during the quarter-final stage would land a one-match ban for the semi-final.
Yellow cards were then wiped completely after the quarter-final stage was over.
However, due to the addition of a Round of 32 game this time around, FIFA have tweaked the rule, wiping yellow cards twice, once after the group stage and again after the quarter-finals.
There are 14 players who picked up a yellow card in the Round of 32. So, if they were to be booked again in the last 16, the new rules would mean they have to miss the quarter-final should their nation make it.
Or, if they manage to avoid a yellow in the last 16 but end up receiving a booking during the quarter-final, they would miss a potential semi-final. As aforesaid, yellow cards are wiped after the quarter-final stage.
You can see who is walking a disciplinary tightrope in the Round of 16 below.
- Casemiro (Brazil)
- Danilo (Brazil)
- Jude Bellingham (England)
- Andres Cubas (Paraguay)
- Matias Galarza (Paraguay)
- Issa Diop (Morocco)
- Antonio Nusa (Norway)
- Brandon Mechele (Belgium)
- Ruben Dias (Portugal)
- Haissem Hassan (Egypt)
- Yasser Ibrahim (Egypt)
- Gonzalo Montiel (Argentina)
- Jhon Arias (Colombia)
- Richard Rios (Colombia)
The following players received a yellow card in the last 16, so they run the risk of missing the semi-final if they are booked again in the quarter-final.
- Redouane Halhal (Morocco)
- Achraf Hakimi (Morocco)
- Azzedine Ounahi (Morocco)
- Bilal El Khannouss (Morocco)
One player is already certain to miss the Round of 16 in Folarin Balogun, who was shown a straight red card as the United States recorded a 2-0 win over Bosnia and Herzegovina in the Round of 32.
The former Arsenal striker will only serve a one-match ban and can return for the quarter-finals, however, should the United States defeat Belgium.
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