Paris Saint-Germain can no longer count on Willian Pacho and Lucas Hernández at the Club World Cup, as both players have been suspended for two matches by FIFA following their red cards in the quarter-final. Their tournament is over.

Paris Saint-Germain will be significantly weakened in their bid to reach the FIFA Club World Cup final, as both Willian Pacho and Lucas Hernández are suspended for the rest of the tournament.

The French giants face Real Madrid in the highly anticipated semi-final on Wednesday, July 9, at 21:00, but their defensive options have been heavily compromised after both players received two-match bans from FIFA following red cards in their quarter-final win over Bayern Munich.

The suspensions are a major blow to head coach Luis Enrique, who will now be forced to reshuffle his back line just days before taking on the reigning European champions. Pacho, who has become a reliable presence at the heart of PSG's defense since his arrival from Eintracht Frankfurt, was shown a straight red card in the 81st minute for a reckless, studs-up challenge on Leon Goretzka. The tackle was immediately deemed dangerous by the referee, and VAR confirmed the decision.

Moments later, in stoppage time, Lucas Hernández received a red card of his own for an off-the-ball incident involving Raphaël Guerreiro. The PSG defender appeared to throw an elbow in the direction of the Bayern midfielder an action spotted by the fourth official and swiftly punished. With FIFA imposing an automatic two-match suspension for both players, neither will be available for the semi-final nor the final, should PSG advance. Their tournament is effectively over.

The loss of both central defenders is more than a tactical inconvenience; it’s a psychological blow to a PSG squad already under pressure to deliver its first ever Club World Cup title. With a chance to face teams like Manchester City or Club América in the final, expectations are high but Luis Enrique now faces a difficult task in finding suitable replacements on short notice. The likely scenario could see Danilo Pereira and Milan Škriniar start in central defense, but questions remain about their chemistry and readiness for such a high-stakes match.

Real Madrid, meanwhile, will also be without a promising young talent in defense. Dean Huijsen, the 19-year-old Dutch center-back, was shown a red card in Madrid’s quarter-final against Al Ahly. Although the incident was less violent in nature than the ones involving PSG players Huijsen was dismissed for a professional foul as the last man FIFA has confirmed that he will miss the semi-final as part of a one-match ban. He will, however, be eligible to return in the final if Carlo Ancelotti’s men progress.

Huijsen’s absence is less damaging for Madrid, given the depth of options available in their defensive ranks. The Spanish side can still call upon Antonio Rüdiger, Éder Militão, Nacho, and possibly Aurélien Tchouaméni as a makeshift center-back if needed. Nevertheless, his suspension removes a dynamic, ball-playing option from Ancelotti’s plans one that has shown maturity well beyond his age during recent outings.

Wednesday’s semi-final is shaping up to be a fiercely contested affair between two European heavyweights. For PSG, it’s a chance to claim a long-awaited international trophy and prove they belong among the global elite beyond domestic dominance. For Real Madrid, it’s another opportunity to expand their already unmatched collection of international silverware.

The absences of Pacho, Hernández, and Huijsen add an extra layer of unpredictability to the encounter. Both teams will need to adapt quickly and maintain composure under pressure something that proved elusive for the suspended trio during the quarter-finals. With emotions likely to run high again, discipline and focus may be just as important as tactics and talent.

Regardless of which side emerges victorious, one thing is certain: the road to the Club World Cup final is never smooth, and for some players, the dream ends not on the pitch, but from the sidelines.