World Cup 2026: Breel Embolo sent off after mistaken identity rule applied

By Rohan Gupta — 12 July 2026 — 3 min read

Switzerland’s Breel Embolo became the first player to be sent off under a new mistaken identity rule during the World Cup 2026 quarter-final match against Argentina. The incident occurred in Kansas City, leading to a significant turning point in the game.

Embolo, who had received a booking in the first half, was shown a second yellow card for simulation in the 72nd minute, resulting in a red card. This decision followed a review by the video assistant referee (VAR), which overturned an initial caution issued to Argentina’s Leandro Paredes.

Mistaken Identity Rule in Play

The sequence began when referee Joao Pinheiro initially booked Paredes for what appeared to be a clumsy challenge. However, the VAR intervened, prompting Pinheiro to review the incident on the monitor. Upon review, the official determined that Embolo had dived.

The new rule, introduced by FIFA for the tournament, allows for a decision to be changed if a player is booked or sent off, but the foul was actually committed by the opposition team. This specific request for a mistaken identity rule came from Pierluigi Collina, the head of referees.

According to the rule, if the referee penalises an offence but clearly misidentifies the player who committed it, only the identity of the attacker can be reviewed. In this case, the reviewable decisions now include mistaken identity when a yellow or red card is shown, but the wrong player of either team is penalised.

Had Paredes not been booked initially, the mistaken identity ruling would not have been triggered, and Embolo would have remained on the field. The first application of this law earlier in the tournament involved USA defender Tim Ream, who was initially booked for a foul on Miguel Almiron. After VAR intervention, the caution was rescinded for Ream, and Almiron was booked for simulation instead.

Impact on the Match

Embolo’s dismissal came just five minutes after Switzerland had equalised against the defending world champions, with Dan Ndoye cancelling out Alexis Mac Allister’s opener. The Switzerland forward was visibly distraught as he left the pitch, consoled by his teammates.

Former Major League Soccer striker Bradley Wright-Phillips commented on the incident, stating, “I feel for Embolo’s team-mates, I don’t feel for him. He has cost his team maybe getting through to the semi-finals.” Similarly, former Jamaica international Jobi McAnuff added, “Breel Embolo let himself down, he let his team-mates down.”

McAnuff further explained that “Everything looks worse in slow motion and he ends up getting the yellow card for simulation. Maybe he felt the contact was going to come sooner and it didn’t. It was simulation but you can’t help but feel sorry for him.”

With Switzerland reduced to 10 men, Argentina eventually secured a 3-1 victory in extra time. Julian Alvarez scored a breathtaking goal in the 112th minute, followed by a late third from Lautaro Martinez, ending Switzerland’s resistance. This win propelled Argentina into the semi-finals, where they are scheduled to face England.

Despite the controversial red card, Switzerland’s coach Murat Yakin expressed pride in his team. “This team has so much passion. Despite the fact we were one man down, we gave it all. I’m extremely proud of everyone,” Yakin stated.

The match saw Lionel Messi fail to score for the first time in this World Cup, though he did provide his 10th World Cup assist, setting a new record for the most assists in the competition’s history. This assist led to Alexis Mac Allister’s early goal. Argentina has now scored in 15 consecutive World Cup games, netting at least twice in each of the past 11, setting a new record for the longest sequence of scoring multiple goals in the competition’s history.

Source: bbc.com

Rohan Gupta

Sports Reporter