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The record for the most red cards in a single FIFA World Cup tournament could be surpassed during the 2026 edition.

Brazilian referee Wilton Sampaio issued a red card to South African midfielder Themba Zwane during the Group A clash between Mexico and South Africa at the 2026 World Cup. That match already saw three players sent off — South Africa’s Yaya Sithole and Themba Zwane, along with Mexico’s Cesar Montes — marking a fiery start to the tournament.

To break the existing record, a total of 26 more players would need to be dismissed before the final, as the current record stands at 28 red cards in a single World Cup.

The record presently belongs to the Germany 2006 World Cup, which featured 28 dismissals. That tournament is remembered for Zinedine Zidane’s infamous headbutt on Marco Materazzi during the final, which became the last red card of that edition.

Coming second is France 1998 with 22 red cards, followed by both South Korea & Japan 2002 and South Africa 2010 with 17 each. The Qatar 2022 World Cup saw only four red cards in total, meaning the 2026 tournament has already reached three-quarters of that figure in its opening stages.

Wayne Rooney was also among the notable players sent off during the 2006 World Cup, further contributing to that record-setting tally.

Several new rule changes introduced by FIFA could increase the likelihood of red cards being shown at this year’s North American tournament. Among the most talked-about changes is the automatic red card for any player covering their mouth while arguing with an opponent or official — a move aimed at promoting transparency on the pitch.

This rule change followed an incident in the UEFA Champions League where Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni was accused of making a racist remark toward Real Madrid and Brazil’s Vinicius Jr. Although Prestianni denied the racial abuse allegation, he was later banned for six matches — with three suspended for two years — after admitting to using a homophobic slur.

While the new disciplinary measures could lead to more send-offs, the expanded format of the 2026 World Cup is another contributing factor. This year’s tournament will feature 104 matches instead of the traditional 64, with 48 nations participating instead of 32.

Among the participating teams, Brazil — the most successful nation in World Cup history — also holds the record for the most red cards overall, with 11 across all tournaments. Argentina follows closely with 10, while Cameroon and Uruguay have each accumulated nine.

The opening match between Mexico and South Africa nearly equalled the record for most red cards in a single World Cup game. That record is held by the infamous “Battle of Nuremberg” during the 2006 tournament, when Portugal and the Netherlands saw four players sent off. Costinha and Deco were dismissed for Portugal, while Khalid Boulahrouz and Giovanni van Bronckhorst were shown red for the Netherlands.

With the intensity of competition and FIFA’s stricter regulations, the 2026 World Cup could very well go down in history for setting a new benchmark in on-field discipline.