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Ecuador defender Piero Hincapie became the second player at the 2026 World Cup to be sent off for covering his mouth while confronting an opponent, during his side's 2-0 loss to Mexico. The red card was issued after VAR review, following a new FIFA rule targeting confrontational interactions.
England's Jude Bellingham was not sent off for covering his mouth while speaking to Ghana's Jordan Ayew because the conversation was friendly, not confrontational. FIFA's new rule, which can result in a red card for hiding the mouth during confrontations, was applied differently in Bellingham's case compared to Paraguay's Miguel Almiron, who was sent off in a heated situation.
England head coach Thomas Tuchel has expressed his disapproval of the hydration breaks implemented during the World Cup, calling them controversial and disruptive to the flow of the game.
Players receiving a red card at the 2026 World Cup face a one-match suspension, with FIFA able to impose further sanctions. Three red cards were shown in the opening game, causing South Africa's Yaya Sithole and Themba Zwane, and Mexico's Cesar Montes to miss their next matches. Yellow card accumulation also triggers bans, but cards are wiped after the group stage and quarter-finals.
