What Are the Changes to the Rules of the Game at the 2026 World Cup?

In addition to the increased number of participants, what makes the 2026 World Cup markedly different from previous editions is the matter of game rules. The International Football Association Board or IFAB has implemented many new regulations. This set of new rules aims to ensure that matches are conducted more fairly. More importantly, no time is wasted unnecessarily.

"IFAB has approved a series of important changes to the rules of the game. The FIFA World Cup 2026 will be the first major tournament to implement them," said FIFA's Chief Refereeing Officer, Pierluigi Collina, at a press conference on Monday (1/6/2026).

The changes to the rules include adjustments to the video assistant referee (VAR), the duration of player substitutions, the taking of goal kicks and throw-ins, as well as injured players.

There are also rules that prohibit players from covering their mouths while speaking to opponents during a commotion. This rule, which seems to limit players' freedom, is intended to prevent racial remarks similar to those faced by Vinicius Junior during his conflict with Gianluca Prestianni.

Among the numerous new regulations, the main spirit remains the same, which is to ensure that matches are conducted fairly. Furthermore, the most important aspect is that IFAB strives to minimize wasted time due to player actions.

"This change aims to address discrimination, reduce time wastage, increase the pace of the match, and enhance the experience for players and fans," said Collina.

The most concrete example can be seen from the rules regarding player substitution intervals. In football, player substitutions have become a common method for teams that are in the lead to slow down the pace of the game or waste time. The substituted player will walk slowly to the edge of the field to allow time to continue running. It is not uncommon for disputes to arise when teams that are trying to catch up feel that the opposing players are taking too long to be substituted out.

In the new regulations, IFAB has decided that substituted players have only 10 seconds to leave the field at the nearest exit point. If they do not comply, the incoming player must wait at least one minute until the next game interruption and is allowed to enter by the referee. This means that teams failing to adhere to the new rules must play with 10 players.

Japan became the first team to benefit from the implementation of the new rules. During a friendly match against Iceland on Sunday (31/5/2026), Isak Thorvaldsson was unable to enter the field immediately because Kristian Hlynsson did not leave the field within 10 seconds. Thorvaldsson was thus prevented from entering the field, leaving Iceland to play with only 10 players.

Japan maximized its advantage in player numbers by scoring a goal through a header from Koki Ogawa three minutes before the end of regular time. Japan's goal came 1 minute and 54 seconds after Thorvaldsson was prevented from entering the field. Thanks to Ogawa's goal, Japan successfully secured a narrow victory of 1-0.

After the match, Japan's coach, Hajime Moriyasu, warned his players not to make the same mistakes as Iceland in the upcoming World Cup. He stated that his players have studied several new rules, ensuring that there will be no significant issues in their adaptation.

"With this new rule, players may not be able to return to the pitch as quickly as before. That's something we need to be mindful of. Whether during substitutions or at other times, we need to avoid creating gaps that give the opponent an opportunity," Moriyasu was quoted as saying by BBC Sport.

The next rule concerning time concerns throw-ins and goal kicks, which are limited to five seconds. Like substitutions, throw-ins and goal kicks are often used by the team in the lead to waste time.

In the new regulations, throw-ins and goal kicks must be executed within a maximum of five seconds. The referee will raise their hand to count the time. If the five seconds are exceeded, a throw-in will be awarded to the opposing team. Meanwhile, a goal kick that exceeds five seconds will result in a corner kick for the opposing team.

An interesting aspect of this rule change is the time limit for treating injured players. Injured players being treated by medical staff must leave the field for one minute. Exceptions may apply for goalkeeper injuries, serious injuries, or collisions. However, outfield players must adhere to this rule.

This is interesting because the IFAB is also targeting time lost while players receive treatment for injuries. In previous World Cups, the risk of losing significant time due to treatment for injured players was compensated for by extending injury time according to the length of time lost. This is why extra time at the 2022 Qatar World Cup could be up to 10 minutes, up from the usual one to five minutes.

On the other hand, the intervention of VAR has also been expanded. If previously VAR was more often used to review fouls or goals, referees are now permitted to check VAR for new matters such as incorrectly awarded corner kicks, red cards issued as a result of a clearly invalid second yellow card, and cases of mistaken identity when a player is penalized with a yellow or red card for a foul committed by another player.

In a highly dynamic game like soccer, the butterfly effect theory is very applicable. One small change can ultimately have a huge impact. So, are you ready for a more exciting World Cup?