Will there be an "inflation" of red cards at the 2026 World Cup?

Just into the second round of group stage matches, the 2026 World Cup has already seen six red cards, surpassing the total number of red cards in the entire 2022 World Cup in Qatar. This dramatic increase raises many questions about the impact of the tournament's expansion, the growing role of VAR technology, and how referees apply the rules.

The 2026 World Cup has only just completed the first few group stage matches, but the number of red cards has already increased sharply. To date, referees have issued six direct red cards, more than the total of four red cards recorded throughout the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Notably, the opening match between Mexico and South Africa saw three red cards, an unprecedented occurrence in the history of World Cup opening matches. In the second group stage match, during Canada's 6-0 victory over Qatar, two players from the West Asian team were sent off. Additionally, Bosnia and Herzegovina defender Muharemovic also had to leave the field after receiving a direct red card.

On June 11th, the referee showed a red card to South African player Chepan Moremi (far left).

When mentioning famous matches with the highest number of cards at the World Cup, many fans will remember the clash between Portugal and the Netherlands in the Round of 16 of the 2006 World Cup. In that match, Russian referee Valentin Ivanov issued 16 yellow cards and 4 red cards, setting a record for the most cards in a single match at the biggest football tournament on the planet.

Notably, the 2006 World Cup also holds the record for the most red cards in a single World Cup tournament, with 28 players being sent off.

Prior to that year's tournament, renowned Premier League referee Graham Poll wrote an article in the Daily Mail explaining the changes in match officiating requirements. According to him, dangerous tackles with one or two feet, as well as elbowing, would be considered serious fouls and could lead to a direct red card. This is considered one of the reasons for the surge in red cards at the 2006 World Cup.

In reality, any change in the rules of the game can directly impact how referees handle situations. In addition, the referee's ability to apply the rules and control the match is also crucial. The Portugal vs. Netherlands match in 2006 is a prime example. After the match, referee Ivanov faced much criticism for allegedly being too lenient with fouls in the early stages, causing players from both teams to increasingly lose control.

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Meanwhile, the 2018 and 2022 World Cups each recorded only 4 red cards. One of the reasons is believed to stem from FIFA's policy of maintaining the image of an attractive, clean tournament and minimizing violence on the field. In 2017, FIFA Referees Committee Chairman Pierluigi Collina emphasized the principle: Players should only be sent off when they commit truly serious acts that deserve a red card.

So what caused the 2026 World Cup to see so many red cards right from the start?

First, the expansion of the tournament's scale could be a contributing factor. The 1994 World Cup saw 15 red cards. After the number of participating teams increased from 24 to 32 in the 1998 World Cup, the number of red cards also rose to 22. At the 2026 World Cup, for the first time, there will be 48 teams participating with a total of 104 matches, significantly more than in previous editions. As the number of matches increases, the likelihood of red card situations also increases.

Furthermore, VAR technology is becoming increasingly effective. Before VAR, many situations that happened quickly or were out of the referee's view were easily missed. Now, slow-motion replays help to more clearly detect fouls, elbowing, or clear attempts to prevent scoring opportunities.

Statistics show that of the 6 red cards issued at the 2026 World Cup, 4 resulted from fouls that prevented clear scoring opportunities for the opposing team. VAR played a crucial role in helping referees make more accurate decisions in these situations.

However, the support of technology does not mean that every decision is free from controversy. In the match between Mexico and South Africa, the second red card given to South African midfielder Themba Zwane became a focal point of discussion.

Speaking after the match, South Africa coach Hugo Broos argued that the penalty was too harsh. He believed the Mexican player deliberately obstructed Zwane's path, and the collision wasn't serious enough to warrant a red card.

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On ESPN, former Premier League referee Andy Davies also commented that the time the referee took to review the situation on screen showed that he wasn't entirely certain about his decision to send Zwane off.

The initial developments of the 2026 World Cup show that the refereeing team has sent a clear message about the standards for handling fouls on the field. Whether the teams will be able to adapt to this new style of officiating to reduce red cards in the remainder of the tournament remains to be seen.

Source: https://www.qdnd.vn/the-thao/worldcup-2026/lam-phat-the-do-tai-world-cup-2026-1045209