The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has finalized a sweeping set of rule changes set to debut at the 2026 FIFA World Cup. According to aljazeera.com, these amendments aim to curb time-wasting, improve match tempo, and address player conduct.
FIFA Chief Refereeing Officer Pierluigi Collina emphasized the scope of the updates to reporters. "The IFAB approved a set of landmark changes to the Laws of the Game, and the FIFA World Cup 2026 will be the first major tournament to use them," Collina stated. "These amendments aim to tackle discrimination, cut time-wasting, enhance match tempo and improve both the player and fan experience."
New disciplinary and technical standards
Under the new protocols, players who cover their mouths with shirts or hands during confrontational moments will receive a red card. The rule excludes friendly interactions between teammates on opposing sides. This shift follows high-profile incidents of alleged discriminatory slurs occurring behind covered mouths.
Protest actions will also carry heavy penalties. Players who leave the field to contest a referee’s decision will be sent off, and teams that force an abandonment of a match will face an automatic forfeit.
Time-wasting measures include a strict five-second countdown for throw-ins and goal kicks. Failure to restart play within this window will result in the ball being turned over to the opposing team—a throw-in for the opponent or a corner kick if a goal kick is delayed.
Substitution rules have also been tightened. Players now have 10 seconds to exit the pitch at the nearest boundary line. If they fail to comply, their replacement must wait one minute after the restart to enter the game. Additionally, players requiring on-field medical treatment must remain off the pitch for one minute after play resumes, with exceptions for head injuries and goalkeeper collisions.
VAR technology will see expanded authority. The system will now review red cards issued for incorrect second yellow cards, cases of mistaken identity, and fouls committed before a set-piece restart. Officials may now also intervene to correct incorrectly awarded corner kicks if the decision can be rectified immediately.
Finally, mandatory three-minute hydration breaks will be implemented near the 22nd minute of each half. In the event of a goalkeeper injury, teams will no longer be permitted to hold tactical timeouts with their coaching staff while treatment is underway.
