10 football law changes to take place in 2026 World Cup
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By Adegboyega Adeleye
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup set to kick off across the United States, Canada and Mexico, football’s lawmakers, the International Football Association Board (IFAB), have approved a series of rule changes aimed at reducing time-wasting, improving officiating and speeding up the game.
FIFA referees chief Pierluigi Collina confirmed that several new regulations will be enforced at the tournament, including restrictions on goalkeeper “tactical timeouts” and expanded VAR powers.
The new rules are designed to reduce time-wasting, discourage gamesmanship and improve decision-making at the World Cup. FIFA also hopes the measures will cut down on excessive stoppage time, which became a major talking point at the 2022 tournament.
The 2026 World Cup will be the first edition featuring 48 teams, making it the largest tournament in FIFA history.
Here is the full list of law changes that will be used at the 2026 World Cup.
- Five-second throw-in countdown
Referees can begin a visible five-second countdown if players delay taking throw-ins. If the countdown expires, possession will be awarded to the opposition.
- Five-second goal-kick countdown
Teams that deliberately waste time during goal-kicks risk conceding a corner kick. The referee will also use a visible five-second countdown.
- Time-limited substitutions
Substituted players must leave the pitch within 10 seconds using the nearest exit point.
Failure to comply means the replacement player cannot enter until the next stoppage after one minute of play.
- One-minute off-field treatment rule
Players who receive on-field medical treatment must stay off the pitch for 60 seconds after play resumes. Goalkeepers and certain injury situations are exempt.
- VAR can review second-yellow red cards
VAR officials can now review dismissals caused by clearly incorrect second yellow cards.
- VAR can review mistaken identity
Video Assistant Referees can intervene if the wrong player is punished with a yellow or red card.
- VAR can review wrongly awarded corners
Competitions can allow VAR reviews for clearly incorrect corner-kick decisions, provided the review is immediate and does not delay play.
- VAR can review attacking fouls before set-pieces
VAR can now intervene if an attacking foul occurs before a corner or free-kick that directly leads to a goal, penalty or major disciplinary incident.
- Red-card sanction for covering the mouth during confrontations
Players who cover their mouths during confrontational exchanges with opponents can now face a straight red card under new anti-discrimination measures.
- Goalkeeper tactical timeouts restricted
Players will no longer be allowed to leave the pitch for team talks when a goalkeeper goes down injured.
The measure will be enforced at the World Cup as part of FIFA’s anti-time-wasting crackdown.
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