Guehi and O'Reilly risk World Cup semi-final ban after yellow cards against Mexico

Marc Guehi and Nico O’Reilly are one booking away from missing England’s World Cup semi-final after both Manchester City defenders were cautioned during the dramatic 3-2 victory over Mexico at the Azteca.

The pair started in a frenetic last-16 contest and were each shown yellow cards within five second-half minutes. O’Reilly’s booking came amid Mexican calls for a red card following a potential elbow, and he was substituted immediately after the referee produced the yellow.

FIFA altered the cumulative yellow-card rules for the 2026 World Cup to account for the expanded 48-team format. Bookings are wiped after the group stage and again after the quarter-finals, specifically to prevent players from being suspended for the latter rounds of the tournament. That means Guehi and O’Reilly enter the Norway quarter-final on one booking each — a second caution in that match would rule them out of the last four.

Should Thomas Tuchel’s side progress, England would face either Argentina or Switzerland in the semi-final. The prospect of losing two first-choice defenders to suspension at that stage gives Tuchel an additional selection consideration when naming his side to face Erling Haaland’s Norway.

Haaland himself adds another layer of intrigue for Guehi, who is well acquainted with the striker from their time together at Manchester City. England have yet to concede a goal to Haaland at this tournament, a record no other side has managed to preserve.

“I know he’ll be up for it,” Guehi said of facing his club teammate. “It’ll be a challenge, but it’s good to see some familiar faces and try and do our best and try and get a win. It’s going to be fun, it will be fun.”