Audio By Carbonatix
Jacob Shaffelburg may not be available for Canada during its first soccer match of the World Cup. He might be suspended due to a red card he received more than 11 months prior to his suspension.
This same thing could happen to the United States and/or Mexico in coming days.
Shaffelburg received his first senior international call-up to Canada in 2020. The 25-year-old winger has since made 27 appearances for the national soccer team, including seven this year for the CONCACAF Gold Cup. His most recent cap was cut short due to a violent collision. He was assessed a second yellow card just before halftime of the quarterfinal loss to Guatemala.
Although it did not seem like Jacob Shaffelburg tried to run through the defender, he was unable to stop his momentum. The referee was right to issue the yellow card. The yellow card was rightfully upgraded to a red because it was his second of the match. A red card results in an automatic ejection.
Canada was down to 10 men for the entire second half and ultimately went on to lose. It will not play another FIFA-regulated match until next year at the World Cup in 2026.
That could create an awkward situation for Shaffelburg.
Not only does a red card warrant immediate removal from the current match, a player who receives a red card is suspended for the next official match. In this case, that next match for Canada is not until the group stage of the World Cup because friendlies do not count toward suspensions.
Because his team got eliminated Jacob Shaffelburg has to serve the ban at the next tournament. That would mean he would not be allowed to play for Canada in the first match of the World Cup.
However, there might be some hope for his availability. Section 9.6 of the World Cup regulations reads as follows:
Any match suspension imposed in terms of matches in relation to a direct or an indirect red card received in a continental competition of a confederation that takes place between matches of the preliminary competition, or between the end of the preliminary competition and the start of the final competition, will not be carried over to the final competition of the FIFA World Cup 2026.
— FIFA World Cup Regulations Sec. 9.6
I read that rule two different ways. Either Shaffelburg’s red card does not carry over to the World Cup or it does not carry over to the “final competition” of the World Cup. If it is the former, he is free and clear. If it is the latter, he would not be allowed to play in the next match unless the next match is the final.
All of the rules in soccer, especially FIFA events, are very specific and confusing. Jacob Shaffelburg could be penalized in June or July of 2026 for a red card he received in June of 2025. We’ll see.
The same thing could also happen with the U.S. and Mexico if one of their players receives a red card either in the Gold Cup final or in the match where his team is eliminated. There is no way to know for sure because the rules are so wonky. Either way, it is not worth the risk. Shaffelburg’s status is in limbo. The United States and Mexico don’t need to put themselves in that position. They need to play it safe!