THIS year’s World Cup has seen a lot of players sent off – with the record of 28 in 2006 under threat!
THREE red cards were given between South Africa and Mexico in the World Cup opener – and it is not the only game with multiple red cards.
Referee Wilton Sampaio was card-happy in the first match Credit: Getty
The players’ discipline in the opener set a precedent for the rest of the tournament.
How many red cards have there been at the World Cup 2026?
There have been 14 red cards at the World Cup so far.
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And the first three all came in the first match – two South African players got sent off and one Mexican player.
Spheoheki Sithole – SOUTH AFRICA vs Mexico (fouling as the last man)
Themba Zwane – SOUTH AFRICA vs Mexico (violent conduct)
Cesar Montes – MEXICO vs South Africa (violent conduct)
Tarik Muharemovic – BOSNIA & HERZEGOVINA vs Switzerland (fouling as the last man)
Homam Elamin – QATAR vs Canada (fouling as the last man)
Assim Madibo – QATAR vs Canada (serious foul play)
Miguel Almiron – PARAGUAY vs Turkey (covering his mouth)
Nathan Ngoy – BELGIUM vs Iran (fouling as the last man)
Rebin Sulaka – IRAQ vs Senegal
Agustin Canobbio – URUGUAY vs Spain
Piero Hincapie – ECUADOR vs Mexico (covering his mouth)
Folarin Balogun – USA vs Bosnia and Herzegovina
Jarell Quansah – ENGLAND vs Mexico
Breel Embolo – Argentina vs SWITZERLAND (mistaken identitiy)
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What is the record for the most red cards at a World Cup?
The most red cards ever given in a single World Cup game is four.
This was a 2006 World Cup round of 16 match between Portugal and the Netherlands.
Russian referee Valentin Ivanov lost control of the match, sending off four players in the game.
The two players who were sent off for Portugal were Costinha and Deco.
While Khalid Boulahrouz and Giovanni van Bronckhorst got sent off for the Netherlands.
