IFAB approves rule changes for 2026 World Cup addressing conduct, time-wasting, and VAR updates
π° Original title: FIFA Makes Bold Rule Changes Ahead Of The Biggest World Cup Ever
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IFAB approves rule changes for 2026 World Cup addressing conduct, time-wasting, and VAR updates
The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has approved a series of significant rule changes that will take effect starting with the 2026β27 football season and will also be implemented at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which begins June 11 in the United States, Mexico, and Canada. According to FIFA Chief Refereeing Officer Pierluigi Collina, the updates are designed to address discrimination, reduce time-wasting, increase match tempo, and improve the overall experience for both players and fans. Among the most notable changes, players who cover their mouths during confrontational situations to potentially make discriminatory remarks will now face a red card. However, casual or friendly conversations will not be penalized. New disciplinary measures also target unsporting behavior such as players or team officials leaving the field in protest, which will now result in red cards, and matches abandoned due to protests will be forfeited. To speed up play, referees will introduce a five-second visual countdown for throw-ins and goal kicks. Failure to restart play in time will result in possession being awarded to the opposing team. Substitution procedures have also been tightened, requiring players to exit within 10 seconds or face delays in re-entering the match. Medical and injury protocols have been updated as well. Players treated on the field by medical staff must leave the pitch for one minute after play resumes, with certain exceptions for serious injuries or goalkeepers. Additionally, VAR will have expanded authority, including reviewing incorrect corner kicks, mistaken identity in disciplinary actions, and fouls occurring before play restarts. Hydration breaks of three minutes will be implemented in each half, typically around the 22-minute mark, with some flexibility for referees. These reforms mark one of the most extensive updates to the Laws of the Game in recent years.






