FIFA has introduced a set of updated rules for the 2026 World Cup, including stricter player eligibility checks and enhanced video assistant referee protocols, to maintain fairness in the expanded 48-team tournament.
The changes, announced on Thursday at FIFA headquarters, also include revised substitution limits and new guidelines on pitch-side behaviour for coaches and staff.
According to Argentine Journalist Gaston Edul, FIFA is introducing several new rules to crack down on time-wasting late in matches and to better deal with disciplinary issues.
The first of these new rules relates to quicker substitutions, with players leaving the pitch required to do so in 10 seconds, stopping them from deliberately walking off slowly while their team is ahead.
If they take longer, their replacement must wait one minute before entering, temporarily leaving their team with one fewer player.
The timings of throw-ins and goal kicks will also come under tighter scrutiny under the new regulations, with officials enforce a five-second time limit for both.
Failure to restart the match within this limit will now result in possession being handed to the opposition.
The final change related to time-wasting will see any player receiving medical attention on the field leave the pitch after they have recovered, where they will wait one minute before returning.
Only if the injury was caused by a foul sanctioned with a card will a player be allowed to return to play immediately.
But it’s not just time-wasting being targeted, as FIFA have now granted VAR the ability to review second yellow cards that lead to a red, as well as incorrectly awarded corner kicks.
Finally, the new regulations state that only the captain of a team can approach the referee to request explanations, any other player who surrounds the official may be sanctioned with a yellow card.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino described the updates as essential for the tournament’s integrity.
“These new rules will ensure the highest standards of fairness and competition as we welcome more nations than ever before,” he said.
The governing body emphasised that the measures were developed in consultation with member associations and will be enforced starting with the qualifiers later this year.
