Harry Kane did not receive a yellow card against Mexico, despite TV pictures suggesting otherwise, England fans will be relieved to hear.
The England captain conceded a penalty for a high challenge on Mexico midfielder Brian Gutierrez in the second half of the World Cup 2026 last-16 clash, with referee Alireza Faghani awarding the spot-kick after he was sent to the VAR monitor.
Raul Jimenez converted the penalty to reduce the Three Lions’ lead to 3-2 but Thomas Tuchel’s side - who were a man down after Jarell Quansah’s earlier red card - held on to set up a quarter-final against Norway on Saturday.
The story behind Harry Kane’s phantom yellow card against Mexico
Players from both teams surrounded Faghani after he awarded the penalty, with Kane and centre-back Marc Guehi closest to the referee.
The Australian official then produced a yellow card and a graphic flashed up on the screen informing viewers that Kane had been booked.
It led to fears that the England skipper is at risk of a one-match ban heading into the clash with Norway, as any player who receives their second booking of the knockout stage in a quarter-final would miss the semi-final if their team gets there.
However, FIFA’s official website states that the 68th-minute caution was actually handed to Guehi, confirming that the graphic attributing it to Kane was an error.
TV coverage of World Cup matches is provided by FIFA’s Host Broadcast Services, which means viewers across the planet see the same set of camera angles, graphics and replays.
As Kane was not cautioned in either the last 32 or last 16, the only way he would miss a potential semi-final is if he were sent off against Norway or suffered an injury.
Guehi is one of four key England players who would be suspended for the last four if they pick up a booking on Saturday, owing to the yellow cards they received earlier in the knockout stage.
The other three are Jude Bellingham, who was cautioned against DR Congo in the last 32, Declan Rice and Nico O’Reilly, both of whom were booked against Mexico.
Yellow cards are wiped out after the quarter-finals, so the only way a player can miss the final through suspension is if they are sent off in the semi-final.
Quansah’s straight red card against Mexico earned him a one-match ban, which he will serve against Norway, but the right-back would be available for the semi-final if England progress.
