World Cup's New Rules
IFAB’s changes expand VAR reviews, tighten substitution timing and add red-card offenses for protests and concealed-mouth confrontations.
- The 2026 FIFA World Cup will feature new regulations approved by IFAB, designed to minimize dead time and improve game flow throughout the tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
- FIFA introduced these measures to reduce interruptions following high-profile incidents like the confrontation between Real Madrid's Vinicius Junior and Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni, which caused significant match delays.
- Officials expanded Video Assistant Referee powers to include disciplinary mistakes, while players now face stricter time limits on substitutions, including a 10-second requirement to exit the pitch.
- Players covering their mouths during confrontations or leaving the pitch in protest risk immediate red cards, following incidents like Senegal's abandonment of the African Cup of Nations final against Morocco.
- Tournament organizers also implemented hydration breaks to manage high temperatures, while referees gained authority to issue five-second countdowns for slow restarts to ensure the World Cup maintains continuous action.
35 Articles
35 Articles
Gary Neville praises 'unbelievable' World Cup rule change
Former Man Utd and England defender Gary Neville (Picture: YouTube) Gary Neville has praised FIFA over a number of rule changes for the World Cup and says the ‘pretty good introductions’ will benefit fans. The 2026 World Cup kicks off on Thursday evening with co-hosts Mexico taking on South Africa. The main hosts, USA, play their World Cup opener in the early hours of Saturday morning, while reigning champions Argentina begin their defence on We…
No more time-shifting and acting. FIFA wants to counteract so many unarts in the World Cup. It won't be easier for the referees. Ex-referee Ittrich evaluates some innovations.
World Cup's new rules
June 10 : There is a raft of tweaks to the rules at the World Cup, which FIFA has brought in weeks ahead of the tournament, designed in particular to reduce time-wasting and expand the use of VAR."These amendments are aimed at combating discrimination, reducing time-wasting, improving the tempo of matches and
The New Rules to Be Applied in the World Cup 2026: What Will Change in the VAR, Expulsions and Exits
Penalties for loss of time and for actions such as Argentina's Prestianni with Brazil's Vinicius in the Champions League, with more intervention from the VAR in front of yellow corner and second, are part of the novelties that the 2026 World Cup will present in the rules of play.
World Cup 2026: The weirdest moments in the tournament's history you've forgotten about
Paul Coyte takes us through the weirdest moments in World Cup history, as the tournament returns for 2026.The 2026 FIFA World Cup is making history by expanding to 48 teams (up from 32) and introducing strict new anti-time-wasting rules, enhanced VAR powers, and severe red card penalties to stop unsportsmanlike behaviour like covering mouths during confrontations or walking off the pitch... and fans can take beers into the stands.WATCH ABOVE. Ou…
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