The World Cup competitions will take place between June 11 and July 19, 2026, with Mexico and South Africa kicking off the first round in Group A.
According to what was published by the global network "Tribuna", the International Federation of Football Associations (FIFA) announced to all participants in the 2026 World Cup that any team that chooses to leave the field during the match will face strict disciplinary measures.
Under the new decision, FIFA will consider such actions as warranting a penalty for the offending team, resulting in a 3-0 loss, and red cards will be shown to the players involved in the withdrawal.
This decision comes in the wake of the controversy that occurred in the Africa Cup of Nations final between Senegal and Morocco, which ended with the Lions of Teranga winning by a single goal.
The Senegalese team had left the field during the final match in protest against one of the refereeing decisions and the awarding of a penalty kick to the host team in the final minutes of the second half before it was missed by Real Madrid star Ibrahim Diaz.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) Appeals Committee has penalized the Senegalese national team with a 3-0 loss, a precedent that FIFA has now taken into account in its regulations for the upcoming World Cup.
