When the 2026 World Cup begins this month, new rules will be implemented that will affect the game as we know it.
The International Football Association Board (IFAB) approved changes to the law of the game that will begin with the World Cup and continue with the 2026-27 domestic seasons around the world.
The changes were made in an effort to improve match pace and player and fan experience. “We are trying to clean the game as much as possible,” said FIFA’s head of refereeing Pierluigi Collina.
Players covering their mouths during a confrontation will be sent off
Inspired by the controversy during the Champions League when Real Madrid’s Vinícius Júnior accused Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni of directing a racist slur at him. Prestianni’s mouth was covered when he said something to the Brazil star, which Prestianni reportedly later alleged was not racist, but an anti-gay slur.
Prestianni was later given a six-match ban with the suspension extended to cover the World Cup.
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Mouth covering will not be penalized in situations where players are speaking normally to one another.
“If it is a friendly conversation, they can continue to do it without any problem,” said Collina.
Clock will tick on throw-ins, goal-kicks, subs
In an effort to combat time wasting, referees will begin raising their hand with a five-second countdown for all throw-ins and goal-kicks. For throw-ins, if the ball is not in play after five seconds, the other team be awarded a throw-in. If a goal-kick is not taken after five seconds, the other team will get a corner kick.
An eight-second time limit was approved before the start of the 2025-26 season for goalkeepers to release the ball during play.
During substitutions, players will have 10 seconds to leave the field once the fourth official has raised the substitution board. As has been the case, players must exit the field via the closest area to the sideline. If this is not done within the time limit the substituting team will be forced to play a man down until the first stoppage after one minute has been played before the replacement player is allowed to enter the game.
MLS introduced this rule during the 2024 season.
The only exception is for player injuries or security concerns.
Players needed on-field medical treatment will have to exit the game for one minute after the game restarts. The only exceptions are goalie injuries, collisions between a goalie and an outfield player or between teammates where medical attention is needed, severe injuries, or when the injured player was about to take a penalty kick.
Teams will also not be allowed to leave the field for a strategy session if a goalkeeper is down and receiving treatment.
Hydration/strategy breaks at every match
Every match at the 2026 World Cup, even those played indoors, will see a water break midway through each half around the 23-minute mark.
Each break will last three minutes and if other managers saw how Mauricio Pochettino used that time during Sunday’s U.S. win over Senegal, it will also involve a bit of a strategy session, while television networks will likely use the time to sell more ads.
More VAR
The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system was originally intended to only review goals, potential red card situations, and penalties. Now its use is being expanded.
IFAB approved three new situations where VAR can jump in: clearly incorrect second yellow cards for players; mistaken identity on yellow and red cards; and incorrectly awarded corner kicks, but not for reversing goal kicks that should have been ruled a corner kick.
Corner kicks, Collina said, will only be reversed if the decision is quick and does not delay a restart.
Leave the field in protest? Don’t expect to come back
Another rule change inspired by recent events will see players sent off if they leave the field in protest of a call. Team staff could also be shown a red card if they inspire players to exit the pitch. Abandoning a match will lead to a forfeit for that team.
This decision comes after Senegal left the field to protest a stoppage-time penalty awarded to Morocco during January’s Africa Cup of Nations final. Eventually, the Lions of Teranga of returned after 16 minutes and won the match 1-0 after extra time. The result, however, was overturned by the Central African Confederation (CAF) into a 3-0 forfeit victory for Morocco. Senegal has since appealed the decision.