NEWNow you can listen to Fox News articles!
The referees have been active in the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
It took just 27 matches in seven days for referees to award more red cards than during all of the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups. The record for red cards in a single World Cup is 28 in 2006. These moments led to penalty kicks, set pieces outside the area and attacks that took advantage of the opponents' shortage of players.
FOX Sports rules analyst Mark Clattenburg weighed in on the rise in red cards.
“The players behave well, but they just make mistakes in and around the penalty area, maybe out of panic,” Clattenburg said. “And I'm not saying that the players who enter the penalty area and concede penalties are more than happy to commit a foul and a red card, knowing they will miss the next game, but now that they have 26 players in the squad, there are a lot of players to cover [those] positions.”
The record for red cards in a single World Cup is 28 in the 2006 edition of the tournament, and nine of them were straight red cards.
- 2026: 6 red cards (6 red cards in a row)
- 2022: 4 red cards (1 direct red)
- 2018: 4 red cards (2 red cards in a row)
- 2014: 10 red cards (7 red cards in a row)
- 2010: 17 red cards (9 red cards in a row)
- 2006: 28 red cards (9 red cards in a row)
Here's a look at each red card and the impact they have had on the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Miguel Almirón was sent off just before half-time in Paraguay's match against Türkiye after a VAR check determined that he had said something while covering his mouth to an opposing player.
Madibo made an inopportune tackle on Canadian Ismaël Koné in midfield. Koné was eventually stretchered off the field as Qatar were reduced to nine men.
With Canada taking an early 2-0 lead, Homam Ahmed's desperate tackle on Tajon Buchanan just outside the box only made matters worse. Canada scored moments later against a 10-man Qatar team to increase the lead to 3-0.
Tarik Muharemović brought down Swiss striker Breel Embolo on the precipice of the area, avoiding a one-on-one between Embolo and the goalkeeper. Switzerland did not convert the next set piece, but with Bosnia and Herzegovina down to just 10 men, the Swiss scored three late goals and wrapped up a 4-1 victory.
As tempers boiled in the opening match, Mexico turned the match into a three-red card affair. César Montes brought down Khuliso Mudau in an attacking position in the second minute of added time. South Africa was unable to take advantage of the set piece and the match ended with a 2-0 victory for Mexico.
Themba Zwane was sent off for touching Brian Gutiérrez on the head during a South African attack. He put his team in a difficult situation, with nine men. Zwane's suspension was extended from the normal one game to three after FIFA ruled he fell under the Article 14 rule for violent contact.
In the opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, Sithole brought down Mexican Brian Gutiérrez just outside the box, earning himself a red card as the last line of defense between Gutiérrez and the goalkeeper. Sithole's red card led to a free kick from a threatening position, but Mexico were unable to convert. However, in the 67th minute, Mexico took advantage of a one-man advantage when Raúl Jiménez scored his first World Cup goal.
