Global football authorities have approved a series of major rule adjustments designed to curb time-wasting, enhance fairness and keep matches flowing more smoothly ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
The decision followed the 140th annual meeting of the International Football Association Board held in Wales. The board, which determines the official Laws of the Game for world football, endorsed several amendments expected to take effect before the next FIFA World Cup 2026.
The tournament will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico and will feature an expanded lineup of 48 teams for the first time in the competition’s history.
Faster Substitutions Introduced
One of the most notable changes targets delays during substitutions. Under the revised rule, players leaving the field must do so within 10 seconds after being substituted.
If a player exceeds that time limit, the incoming substitute will be forced to wait one minute before entering the pitch.
Officials say the measure is meant to discourage players from intentionally slowing down the game when their teams are protecting a lead late in matches.
New Time Limit for Throw-ins and Goal Kicks
To further address deliberate delays, the board also approved a countdown system for restarting play from throw-ins and goal kicks.
Players will now have five seconds to restart the game once they are ready to take a throw-in or goal kick. Failure to do so will result in possession being awarded to the opposing side.
Football authorities believe the rule will reduce unnecessary stoppages and maintain the tempo of matches.
Injured Players Must Leave the Field
Another amendment concerns on-field medical treatment. Players who require attention from medical staff must leave the pitch and remain off it for at least one minute before returning to action.
The rule was previously trialled in several competitions organised by FIFA, including the FIFA Arab Cup, as part of efforts to limit stoppages caused by minor injuries.
According to Pierluigi Collina, chairman of FIFA’s referees committee, the change is intended to discourage players from exaggerating injuries as a tactic to disrupt the flow of the game.
Broader Role for VAR
The responsibilities of the Video Assistant Referee will also expand under the updated rules.
Previously, VAR reviews were largely restricted to goals, penalty decisions, direct red cards and mistaken identity cases.
Under the new guidelines, VAR will also be able to review second yellow card incidents as well as clear errors in corner-kick decisions.
However, the board stressed that such reviews must remain quick and should only occur in situations where there is a clear and obvious mistake.
Aim: Faster, Fairer Matches
Football’s lawmakers say the package of reforms is designed to improve match management, promote consistency in officiating and reduce controversies surrounding refereeing decisions.
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With the expanded format of the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 expected to increase the number of matches and teams involved, officials believe the new measures will help ensure games run more efficiently while preserving the spirit of the sport.