Seventeen players will head into the 2026 FIFA World Cup quarter-finals one yellow card away from suspension, with another booking set to rule them out of a potential semi-final if their teams advance.
Under FIFA’s disciplinary rules, players who receive a second yellow card of the tournament during the quarter-finals will miss the next match.
The list includes players from England, Morocco, France, Switzerland, Spain, Norway, Belgium and Argentina.
England, Morocco have most players at risk
England and Morocco each have four players walking the disciplinary tightrope.
England’s Jude Bellingham, Nico O’Reilly, Declan Rice and Marc Guehi will all miss a possible semi-final if they receive another yellow card in the quarter-finals.
Morocco face a similar concern with Issa Diop, Achraf Hakimi, Redouane Halhal and Bilal El Khannouss all one caution away from suspension.
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England will also be without Jarell Quansah for their quarter-final against Norway after the defender received a red card during the Three Lions’ 3-2 Round of 16 victory over co-hosts Mexico.
Other players at suspension risk
France duo Michael Olise and Manu Kone also enter the quarter-finals carrying one booking.
Switzerland have three players at risk: Granit Xhaka, Denis Zakaria and Miro Muheim.
The remaining players on the list are Spain’s Ferran Torres, Norway’s Antonio Nusa, Belgium’s Brandon Mechele and Argentina’s Gonzalo Montiel.
All 17 players must avoid another booking in the quarter-finals to remain available for a potential semi-final appearance.
