As the 2023 Women's World Cup moves into the knockout stages, the potential for suspensions becomes a concern for coaches, players and fans.
FIFA updated its rules on suspensions for both yellow and red cards ahead of the tournament but the potential for a ban will remain in the background.
Tournaments can turn on a yellow card issued to a key player and supporters will be anxiously keeping an eye on certain stars who love a crunching tackle.
The Sporting News looks at the latest picture in the 2023 Women's World Cup and how suspensions will be decided in Australia and New Zealand.
MORE: FIFA Women's World Cup schedule, tables, and match times 2023
Women's World Cup 2023 yellow card rules
In the group stages, if a player received a yellow card in two successive matches, they would be banned for the third group game.
However, those individual yellow cards can be carried into the Round of 16 if a player receives their second yellow card of the tournament in the third group game.
For example, if a player is shown a yellow card in the first and third group games, or the second and third, they will be suspended for the Round of 16.
All individual yellow cards are wiped from the record after the quarterfinal stage, mirroring the men's tournament, meaning a player cannot be suspended for the final due to yellow card accumulation. Of course, a player could still be banned for the final if they are shown a red card during the semifinals.
Women's World Cup 2023 suspension rules
The yellow card rules refer to all games up to and including the quarterfinals. A one-game ban is incurred if a player receives two yellow cards before the final whistle is blown in their quarterfinal game.
A player can be banned for the semifinals via the accumulation of yellow cards, but not for the final — all players are given a 'clean slate' in terms of previous bookings once the semifinal stage is reached.
For red cards, players are given an automatic one-match ban, either if the decision is a straight red card or as a result of two yellow cards in a single game.
Only a semifinal red card can result in a suspension for the final.
Women's World Cup Round of 16 fixtures
The matchups in the Round of 16 are predetermined and the bracket is updated as each team clinches first or second place in their respective groups.
World Cup Round of 16
| Date | Match | Time (Local / ET / BST) | City |
| Sat, Aug. 5 | Switzerland (1A) vs. Spain (2C) | 5 p.m. / 1 a.m. / 6 a.m. | Auckland (NZL) |
| Sat, Aug. 5 | Japan (1C) vs. Norway (2A) | 8 p.m. / 4 a.m. / 9 a.m. | Wellington (NZL) |
| Sun, Aug. 6 | Netherlands (1E) vs. South Africa (2G) | 12 p.m. / 10 p.m. (Aug 5) / 3 a.m. | Sydney (AUS) |
| Sun, Aug. 6 | Sweden (1G) vs. USA (2E) | 7 p.m. / 5 a.m. / 10 a.m. | Melbourne (AUS) |
| Mon, Aug. 7 | England vs. Nigeria (2B) | 5:30 p.m. / 3:30 a.m. / 8:30 a.m. | Brisbane (AUS) |
| Mon, Aug. 7 | Australia (1B) vs. Denmark (2D) | 8:30 p.m. / 6:30 a.m. / 11:30 a.m. | Sydney (AUS) |
| Tue, Aug. 8 | Colombia (1H) vs. Jamaica (2F) | 6 p.m. / 4 a.m. / 9 a.m. | Melbourne (AUS) |
| Tue, Aug. 8 | France (1F) vs. Morocco (2H) | 8:30 p.m. / 7 a.m. / 12 p.m. | Adelaide (AUS) |
