FIFA has officially announced a series of significant rule changes for the 2026 World Cup, aimed at increasing the tempo of play and reducing time-wasting.
The new regulations, approved by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), include a strict 10-second limit for substituted players to leave the pitch. If a player exceeds this timeframe, their replacement must wait a full minute before entering, temporarily leaving their team with one fewer player on the field.
In addition to substitution changes, referees will now enforce a five-second countdown for throw-ins and goal kicks. Failure to restart play within this window will result in an immediate loss of possession; specifically, a delayed goal kick will result in a corner kick for the opposing team. Furthermore, a new "medical minute" rule requires players receiving on-field treatment to remain off the pitch for 60 seconds after play resumes, unless the injury was caused by a bookable offense.
The role of the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) is also expanding to cover critical match moments previously outside its jurisdiction. VAR will now be permitted to review second yellow cards that lead to a red card, as well as clearly incorrectly awarded corner kicks. To improve on-field discipline, FIFA is also implementing "only the captain" guidelines, where only team leaders may approach the referee for explanations.