Through the early stages of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, officials have issued red cards at a higher rate than in prior recent tournaments. Reporting from multiple outlets notes that the number of red cards shown in 2026 has already exceeded the total number recorded during the entire 2022 World Cup in Qatar. One outlet also characterizes the current disciplinary level as surpassing the totals from the last two World Cups combined, suggesting a notable uptick relative to recent history. The coverage attributes the trend broadly to factors such as strong or late tackles, high-intensity play, and the decisions of referees, but does not identify a single definitive cause. Instead, the articles focus on the statistical comparison and the disciplinary “fallout” that follows each red card, including match consequences and the immediate impacts on teams. Both sources present the same core point: red cards are being shown more frequently in 2026 than the tournaments that came before it, with 2026 already outpacing the full Qatar 2022 total.