2026 World Cup sees increase in fouls and VAR interventions

The 2026 World Cup has become a record-breaking tournament in red card distribution, marked by a significant increase in violent conduct incidents and precise VAR interventions. Greater strictness by FIFA referees, combined with the high pace of modern football and the psychological pressures of competition, has substantially increased the likelihood of player dismissals compared to previous tournaments. This situation has turned committing dangerous fouls and playing with one fewer player into one of the main challenges facing teams in this competition.