New rules to be used at 2026 FIFA World Cup
The International Football Association Board (The IFAB), at its 140th Annual General Meeting (AGM), approved several measures designed to enhance match tempo and reduce time-wasting across the game.
The meeting was held in Hensol, Wales, and chaired by Mike Jones, President of the Football Association of Wales (FAW), in a year that marks the FAW’s 150th anniversary, a fitting backdrop for decisions aimed at shaping the modern game for the future.
These changes, which will be implemented at the FIFA World Cup 2026 and all other competitions, respond directly to calls from stakeholders across the football community, including The IFAB’s globally representative advisory panels, for practical tools to protect effective playing time.
Throw-ins and goal kicks
Building on last year’s widely welcomed change in the Laws to prevent goalkeepers from holding the ball for too long, the AGM confirmed the extension of the countdown principle to throw-ins and goal kicks.
If the referee considers that a throw-in or goal kick is taking too long or is being deliberately delayed, a five-second visual countdown will be initiated. If the ball is not in play at the end of the countdown, the throw-in will be awarded to the opposing team; a delayed goal kick will result in a corner kick to the opposing team.
Time-limited substitutions
To further streamline match flow, substituted players must leave the field of play within 10 seconds of the substitution board being displayed or, where no board is used, upon the referee’s signal. Should the player fail to leave within this time, they must still exit the field; however, the substitute will not be permitted to enter until the first stoppage after one minute of play (running clock) has elapsed.
Off-field treatment and assessment
Where a player receives on-field assessment for an injury, or their injury causes play to be stopped, the player will be required to leave the field of play and remain off for one minute once play (running clock) has restarted.
Video assistant referee (VAR) system protocol developments
With regard to the VAR system protocol, the AGM approved three adjustments. Where there is clear evidence, the VAR will now be permitted to check and review:
– Red cards arising from a clearly incorrect second yellow card;
– Mistaken identity, when the referee penalises the wrong team for an offence resulting in a red or yellow card being shown to the wrong player; and
– Competitions may allow VARs to review a clearly incorrectly awarded corner kick, provided that the review can be completed immediately and without delaying the restart.
The IFAB also agreed that trials be conducted to further assess goalkeeper tactical injury delays and to propose options to deter this behaviour.
