FIFA has announced a significant change to the yellow card rule for the World Cup, aimed at reducing the number of players suspended during the tournament. Under the new regulation, single yellow cards will be wiped clean after the group stage and then again after the quarterfinals.
This means that a player who receives a yellow card in the group stage will not carry that booking into the knockout rounds, as long as they don't get a second yellow that results in a suspension. Similarly, any yellow card accumulated from the round of 16 through the quarterfinals will be erased before the semifinals.
The decision, confirmed by FIFA's referees committee, is designed to encourage more attacking play by minimizing the fear of missing a key match due to accumulated bookings. Previously, yellow cards were only cancelled after the quarterfinals, leading to several high-profile players being suspended for the semifinal or final.
FIFA hopes this adjustment will ensure that the best players are on the pitch for the most important games of the tournament.