FIFA approved several new rules for the 2026 World Cup. The world governing body acted to cut time wasting and boost accuracy on the pitch. Changes take effect across all competitions from July 2026.
Substituted players had to leave the pitch within 10 seconds after the referee signalled the change. If they delayed, the replacement waited one minute before entering the field. FIFA officials designed this rule to prevent slow exits that disrupted play.
Players had to take throw ins within five seconds. Otherwise possession passed to the opposing team. This measure stopped deliberate delays during restarts and kept matches flowing smoothly.
Players who received medical treatment left the pitch for one minute after play restarted. They returned only once that time elapsed. The rule curbed fake injuries used to waste clock time.
Video assistant referee gained authority to check second yellow cards. VAR also reviewed corner kick decisions when a clear and obvious error occurred. Officials expanded the protocol to correct major mistakes without halting games excessively.
These updates built on earlier efforts to improve match flow. FIFA rolled them out after approval by the International Football Association Board in late February 2026. The changes applied uniformly at the World Cup and other events.
