FIFA and IFAB Confirm New World Cup Regulations
The International Football Association Board (IFAB) and FIFA have announced several new law changes and widened the VAR intervention protocol for the 2026 World Cup.
Regarding the new changes, FIFA referee committee chairman Pierluigi Collina stated that "the main target is to eliminate or reduce time‑wasting and to clean the game as much as possible."
AFCON Final Controversy Triggers New Rule
According to the new law from IFAB, a red card will be shown to any player or team official who leaves the field or prompts the players to leave the field to protest against a referee decision.
FIFA decided to implement this law in the aftermath of controversies in the African Cup of Nations final in January 2026. In that clash between Senegal and Morocco, Senegal protested against the referee's decision to award a penalty to Morocco in the last minute of the game by walking off the pitch.
Later, Brahim Diaz missed the penalty, and Senegal was crowned the winner by Pape Gueye in the 93rd minute, but the Central African Confederation assessed the mass exit of Senegal players as a match-forfeiting scenario and awarded the trophy officially to Morocco after stripping it from Senegal.
Incorrect Corner Decisions Can Now Be Reversed
One key change introduced VAR intervention in corner kicks; earlier VAR did not intervene in corners even if they were mistakenly awarded, but in the World Cup, VAR can intervene in an incorrectly awarded corner kick and can reverse the decision to a goal kick without any direction from the on-field referee.
Colina stated this involvement of VAR will not waste specific time to take a decision but will use the time that the team is taking to get ready to take corners. If the corner is quickly taken, then VAR may not intervene because the match is restarted.
According to the latest change, VAR can reverse a corner into a goal kick but cannot reverse a goal kick to a corner if erroneously awarded.
Free Kicks and Goals Face Added Scrutiny
VAR can intervene in the attacking team’s actions prior to taking corners and free kicks.
If the referee, after review, sees the foul happened before the kick was taken, then the referee can give a card and order the corner/free kick to be retaken so the goal or penalty will not count.
New Measures Against Time-Wasting
In this World Cup, a referee can use a visible 5-second countdown if a team is trying to delay the throw-in or goal kick. If they still do not restart on time, the throw-in will be awarded to the opposing team from the same position, and a goal kick becomes a corner for opponents.
If the goalkeeper holds the ball in their hand, the referee can use a visible 8-second countdown. In case the goalkeeper holds the ball for more than 8 seconds, the other team gets a corner kick.
Tougher Substitution Rules
New disciplinary measures for substitutions and injury interruptions will be implemented in this edition of the World Cup. A player who is substituted must leave the pitch within 10 seconds; otherwise, their team will be forced to play with 10 players until the next stoppage, which means the new player has to wait.
Injured Players Must Remain Off the Pitch
If play stops for an on-field injury and treatment, that player must leave the pitch once play restarts and stay off for at least one minute, except goalkeepers.
New Rules Target Concealed Abuse and Misconduct
Players are not allowed to cover their face with a jersey or hand during a dispute. This decision is followed by incidents in the Champions League clash between Benfica and Real Madrid, where Gianluca Prestianni allegedly racially abused Vinicius Junior by covering his mouth with a jersey.
This incident sparked widespread controversy, and Gianluca Prestianni received a six-game suspension from UEFA.
FIFA Aims to Increase Tempo and Improve Fairness
Impact of these laws is yet to be seen on the pitch, with FIFA and IFAB hoping they create a faster, fairer, and more disciplined game.