17 Players Risk Semi‑final Ban After Quarter‑final Yellow Cards
Under FIFA’s disciplinary rules, any player who picks up a second booking during the quarter‑finals will be suspended for the next match if their team advances. This means a caution in the last eight could keep them out of a possible semi‑final.
After the Round of 16, the list of players walking this disciplinary tightrope grew to seventeen. Morocco tops the concern with four players at risk: Issa Diop, Achraf Hakimi, Redouane Halhal and Bilal El Khannouss.
England also has four players one booking away from missing a semi‑final: Jude Bellingham, Nico O’Reilly, Declan Rice and Marc Guehi. Additionally, Jarell Quansah will miss England’s quarter‑final against Norway after being sent off in the 3‑2 win over co‑hosts Mexico.
France could see Manu Kone and Michael Olise sidelined if they receive another caution. Switzerland’s Granit Xhaka, Denis Zakaria and Miro Muheim are also in jeopardy.
The list is completed by Spain’s Ferran Torres, Norway’s Antonio Nusa, Belgium’s Brandon Mechele and Argentina’s Gonzalo Montiel. All seventeen must avoid any further yellow cards in the quarter‑finals if they hope to feature in a potential semi‑final.
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