FILE PHOTO: A blow up soccer ball of the Trionda, the official match ball of the FIFA World Cup 2026, stands during a press conference announcing an official fan zone for the area in New York City, U.S., April 27, 2026. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo
Less than two weeks out from the start of the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) has announced significant changes to its video assistant referee (VAR) system.
With expanded power, VAR will now be able to rectify wrongly-awarded second yellow cards, mistaken identity fouls, or incorrectly-adjudicated corner kicks.
Other notable amendments feature strict time limits to increase the flow of the game. Teams will be given 10 seconds to complete substitutions, while throw-ins and goal kicks will have five-second countdowns.
Players who receive treatment from medical staff on the pitch will also be required to leave the field for at least one minute after play restarts. Granted, exceptions will be made for injuries to a goalkeeper or for perceived head injuries.
Match officials will crack down on tactical timeouts, though, which sees teams congregate at their respective benches for talks with their manager while a player is receiving treatment.
It fulfills FIFA refereeing committee chairman Pierluigi Collina’s promise made back in December, prior to the World Cup Draw, that the “main criteria” of this tournament would be “no delays.”
There will, however, be mandatory three-minute hydration breaks in each half of every World Cup match, necessitated by the expected high temperatures throughout the region.
Player dissent will also be closely monitored. Any player who covers their mouth while confronting an opponent or match official will be shown a red card. Those who walk off the pitch in protest of a refereeing decision will also be shown red cards. If an entire team walks off, the match will be abandoned, and the acting side will automatically forfeit.
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