Fifa introduces new VAR and timewasting laws for the 2026 World Cup
Fifa has introduced a sweeping series of 11 rule changes for the 2026 World Cup aimed at eliminating timewasting and expanding video assistant referee powers.
The global governing body implemented these measures under the guidance of head of referees Pierluigi Collina.
Fans will soon see these regulations applied domestically across the Premier League, English Football League and Scottish Premiership next season.
Instead of adding unprecedented amounts of stoppage time, officials will now focus on deterring players from delaying restarts.
During the 2022 tournament in Qatar, strict timekeeping resulted in matches regularly exceeding 100 minutes.
England’s opening 6-2 victory over Iran famously featured a remarkable 24 minutes of added time across both halves.
Strict countdowns for restarts
Referees will now visibly enforce a five-second countdown for goal-kicks and throw-ins.
Officials will signal the countdown by moving their arm up and down if they feel a player is unnecessarily delaying the game.
Goalkeepers who take too long over their kicks will now concede a corner instead of merely risking a yellow card.
Similarly, players who deliberately waste time taking a throw-in will see possession handed straight to the opposition.
The Italian refereeing chief hopes that the threat of conceding a dangerous set-piece will prove a much more effective deterrent than bookings.
Temporary dismissals for slow substitutions
Substituted players are now strictly required to leave the pitch at the nearest boundary point within 10 seconds.
Failing to meet this deadline will prevent the replacement player from entering the field for at least one minute.
The offending team will then be forced to play with 10 players until the next natural stoppage in play.
Exemptions to this strict departure rule will only be granted for genuine injuries or severe security concerns.
This specific penalty has already been tested in international football.
Iceland were recently left a man down for over two minutes during a friendly against Japan after a player failed to leave the pitch promptly.
Expanded video technology powers
The comprehensive 2026 regulations also include new unspecified powers for the video assistant referee.
Additional adjustments have been formulated to address general player behaviour towards match officials.
Tournament organisers ultimately aim to protect the natural tempo of the game while reducing the potential for match-changing mistakes.