Attention: FIFA Approves New Rules to Debut at World Cup 2026
FIFA has announced a series of regulatory modifications to be implemented for the 2026 World Cup in the United States. The central objective of these measures is clear: to increase effective playing time and reduce practices historically used by teams to slow down matches or deliberately waste time.
TL;DR
- FIFA is implementing new regulations for the 2026 World Cup to increase effective playing time.
- Substitutions must be completed within 10 seconds; failure results in a one-minute wait.
- A five-second limit is introduced for throw-ins and goal kicks; exceeding it results in loss of possession.
- Players receiving on-field medical attention must stay off for at least one minute, unless the injury resulted from a carded foul.
- VAR will review second yellow cards leading to expulsion and incorrect corner kick decisions.
- Only team captains can approach the referee; other players risk a yellow card.