Fifa has introduced five major rule changes for the 2026 World Cup in North America to combat time-wasting and improve the flow of the game.
The expanded 48-nation tournament will take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
World football’s governing body has acted after observing unwanted habits dominate recent domestic seasons.
Time-wasting was a major talking point at recent meetings, prompting stringent new measures.
Strict time limits on substitutions and throw-ins
The most eye-catching regulation involves a strict 10-second limit for departing players during substitutions.
If a replaced individual takes longer to leave the field, their replacement must wait one minute before entering.
This temporary penalty will leave the offending team operating with a one-player disadvantage.
Throw-ins will also be strictly governed by a new five-second timer from the moment the ball goes out of bounds.
Exceeding this touchline limit will result in an immediate turnover of possession to the opposition.
Medical protocols and VAR expansion
Medical treatment for injuries must now be administered off the pitch.
Affected players must wait one minute before returning to the action, unless the injury resulted from a carded foul.
Furthermore, video assistant referees will see their jurisdiction expanded for the upcoming showpiece event.
Officials in the video booth will now possess the authority to review second yellow cards.
Captains given exclusive dialogue rights
The successful regulation restricting referee interactions to team captains will also feature prominently.
Any other squad member who surrounds the match official risks receiving an instant booking.
These new directives aim to eliminate the dark arts from international competition entirely.
Arsenal winger Noni Madueke is determined to secure his place in Thomas Tuchel’s England World Cup squad before returning to north London for a crucial Premier League title push.
The 24-year-old has established himself as the primary understudy to club-mate Bukayo Saka on the right flank, moving ahead of West Ham United’s Jarrod Bowen in the national team pecking order.
He is expected to earn his 10th senior international cap when the Three Lions host Uruguay in a Wembley friendly on Friday.
Embracing the international challenge
The former Chelsea attacker has featured prominently during Tuchel’s opening 15 months in charge of the national team.
He opened his senior international account during a comprehensive 5-0 World Cup qualifying victory over Serbia in September.
Following that milestone, the German tactician praised the forward’s growing influence but challenged him to increase his goalscoring output.
“I think it’s great, that challenge that he’s set for me,” Madueke explained.
“It shows his belief in me and I’m grateful for that.”
“I definitely have confidence going into every game that if I play well that I can be a real threat for the opposition and be decisive as well.”
Shifting focus from Wembley to domestic glory
On the domestic front, the dynamic winger recently endured Carabao Cup final heartbreak following a narrow defeat to Manchester City.
That Wembley showpiece is widely viewed as a precursor to the intensifying Premier League title battle between Mikel Arteta’s side and the reigning champions.
“My focus now is on England. Of course it’s difficult, those types of games, but you take it in your stride,” he added.
“You can’t sulk, you have to carry on.”
“We’ve got important games for England coming up, which I’m fully focused on to try and do my best, and when we get back to club, it will be the final push to try and finish where we want to.”
Comparing elite managerial approaches
The versatile forward also highlighted the tactical and cultural similarities between his national team boss and his club manager.
“First and foremost, they’re both incredible managers, managers of the highest level,” he noted.
“With managers like that, they ask you to put the team first and to be focused on your role and how you’re going to help the team.”
Atletico Madrid are preparing a lucrative new contract offer for Julian Alvarez to ward off mounting transfer interest from Arsenal and Barcelona.
The Spanish club are willing to make the Argentine forward one of their highest earners with a proposed wage increase to €10m (£8m) per year.
He is currently tied to the Colchoneros until 2030 and boasts a formidable €500m (£432m) release clause.
Official negotiations over a fresh deal have not yet commenced, but executives remain hopeful that his family’s successful transition to life in Madrid will prove decisive.
Arsenal monitor financial constraints
The North London club maintain a long-standing admiration for the South American attacker and are well placed to act if an opportunity emerges.
However, any serious move by the Gunners would require significant player departures to ensure compliance with the Premier League’s Profitability and Sustainability Rules.
Barcelona have also been touted as a potential destination, with the Catalan side reportedly willing to table an offer in the region of €100m (£87m).
Simeone desperate to retain key asset
Manager Diego Simeone recently emphasised the fundamental role his compatriot plays within the squad.
A goal is always an incentive for strikers.
“He’s a very important player, recognised worldwide, wanted by lots of teams,” Simeone explained.
“But we have him and hopefully he can give us everything he’s got, because he’s a fantastic footballer.”
Chelsea are also monitoring the situation from afar, though retaining the prolific goalscorer remains the overwhelming priority for Atletico.
England manager Thomas Tuchel says Ben White must “clear the air” with his team-mates after the Arsenal defender ended his self-imposed international exile.
The 28-year-old has been brought into the latest camp as a replacement for the injured Jarell Quansah.
He will be available for Friday’s friendly against Uruguay at Wembley, followed by a home fixture against Japan on Tuesday.
The former Brighton centre-back famously left the 2022 World Cup in Qatar for personal reasons and later declined a call-up from Gareth Southgate in March 2024.
Euphoric reaction to recall
Tuchel revealed he reached out directly to the defender to gauge his interest in returning to the national setup.
The German tactician insisted he was not fully aware of past disagreements, preferring instead to open a “new book” with the current squad.
“Once I asked Ben if he would be ready to play for me and for England, he straightaway, without hesitation, said he would love to come back,” Tuchel said.
“The reaction came within seconds. It was very euphoric, very positive and very emotional about it.”
The England boss praised the defender’s exceptional training performances since rejoining the group.
However, Tuchel noted that mending relationships with players who were present in Qatar remains a necessary step.
“I think it’s necessary he clears the air with his team-mates and I think he will with players who come back who were in the World Cup together with him.”
Alexander-Arnold told to accept omission
White’s inclusion came at the direct expense of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who continues to be overlooked for international duty.
The Real Madrid full-back was omitted despite Quansah’s withdrawal creating an obvious opening on the right side of the defence.
Tuchel described the decision as a purely sporting choice, acknowledging it might seem harsh on the former Liverpool man.
“It’s just a choice. A sportive choice. Maybe a hard choice. And maybe to a degree unfair,” he explained.
When asked what the omitted defender must do now, the national team manager offered a blunt assessment.
“He just has to accept it.”
Premiership Rugby clubs have agreed to implement a mandatory £5.4m squad salary floor from next season to ensure a closely contested top flight.
Each team competing in the English elite division will be strictly required to spend the minimum figure annually on player wages.
The overall salary cap remains unchanged at £6.4m.
However, this upper limit can stretch to £7.8m through home-grown talent credits and other domestic allowances.
Bridging the competitive financial gap
Clubs failing to reach the new lower spending limit will face severe financial penalties equivalent to their shortfall.
This strict fine system is designed to heavily incentivise franchises to invest consistently in their playing squads.
Several domestic sides are expected to significantly increase their current payrolls to meet the new regulations.
Bristol Bears director of rugby Pat Lam noted last season that eventual champions Bath spent nearly £3m more on their playing roster.
Overhauling the domestic landscape
Despite a recent takeover by energy drink giant Red Bull, bottom-placed Newcastle are currently believed to operate well below the upcoming £5.4m threshold.
Such rigid squad spending mandates remain rare in British sport, though they are heavily utilised in major overseas competitions.
Australia’s elite National Rugby League mandates a 95% salary cap minimum spend, while American Football’s NFL enforces a 90% floor.
League executives hope greater payroll parity will drastically improve competitive balance when relegation is formally scrapped next season.
Renewed commercial confidence
A significant divide has emerged this campaign, leaving Newcastle Red Bulls, Harlequins, Gloucester and Sale detached from the play-off race.
The introduction of a spending floor reflects a renewed financial confidence within the sport following recent high-profile administrative changes.
Billionaire industrialist James Dyson recently became co-owner of Bath, signalling further anticipated private investment across the division.
Premiership officials now intend to expand the league to 12 teams by the 2029-30 season, pending an agreement with the second-tier Championship.
Big game staging concepts
Chief executive Simon Massie-Taylor believes new entrants must clearly prove their competitive worth before earning promotion.
A top-six finish and qualification for the Champ play-offs would be the natural thing.Simon Massie-Taylor
The league hierarchy is also keen to build upon the growing commercial success of flagship weekend fixtures.
Everton’s new Hill Dickinson Stadium has already been earmarked as a potential host venue for neutral semi-finals from 2029.
Meanwhile, sixth-placed Saracens face leaders Northampton Saints at the 63,000-capacity Tottenham Hotspur Stadium this weekend to keep their narrowing play-off hopes alive.
Former Bayern Munich sporting director Matthias Sammer believes Pep Guardiola will leave Manchester City this summer, despite the manager holding a contract until 2027.
Sammer, who worked alongside the Catalan coach in Germany, has expressed concerns over the manager’s current demeanour.
“I think I understood him quite well with his facial expressions, his gestures, his eyes, and his way of speaking,” Sammer told Sky Germany.
“My gut feeling tells me something’s wrong when I look at his face.”
Taking a break from football
The German football executive suggested that his former colleague should consider stepping away from the dugout to rediscover his passion for the sport.
The former Barcelona boss has previously acknowledged his desire to take a hiatus once his tenure in Manchester concludes.
Speaking earlier this season, he confirmed that a sabbatical is a definitive part of his long-term career plan.
“I know that after this stage with City I’m going to stop, that’s for sure, it’s decided, more than decided,” he stated.
The decorated tactician admitted he does not know how long his eventual break will last, playfully suggesting he wants to simply “stop and watch the cows go by”.
Adding to the trophy cabinet
If the current campaign proves to be his final season in England, he has already ensured he will depart with additional silverware.
The reigning English champions recently defeated Arsenal to secure the Carabao Cup, providing a significant boost during a demanding domestic schedule.
They also remain active in the FA Cup, setting up a highly anticipated clash against Liverpool.
However, their hopes of retaining the Premier League trophy appear increasingly slim, as they currently trail league leaders Arsenal by nine points with only eight matches remaining.
Tottenham Hotspur have held internal discussions regarding the potential appointment of Fulham manager Marco Silva as they consider dismissing caretaker boss Igor Tudor amidst a worsening Premier League relegation battle.
The north London club find themselves in severe danger of dropping into the Championship following a disastrous 3-0 defeat to relegation rivals Nottingham Forest on Sunday.
Caretaker manager Tudor has overseen a dismal run of form, securing just a single point from a possible 15 since replacing Thomas Frank last month.
Spurs now face a crucial two-and-a-half-week break before a pivotal trip to Sunderland, affording the club hierarchy time to evaluate their leadership options.
Fulham boss emerges as leading candidate
Senior figures at Hotspur Way are actively exploring the possibility of bringing the 48-year-old Portuguese coach across the capital.
It remains unclear whether the Tottenham board intend to make an immediate move to replace their struggling Croatian interim or if they view the current Craven Cottage resident as a primary summer target.
The highly-rated tactician is entering the final months of his agreement in west London, meaning he could be available on a free transfer at the end of the current campaign.
He has consistently impressed during his five-year tenure at Fulham, guiding the team to comfortable mid-table security on a comparatively modest budget.
Fulham defender Calvin Bassey recently highlighted the calibre of his current manager.
He is one of the best managers in the Premier League.
Calvin Bassey
Alternatives considered amid fan unrest
While the former Everton manager possesses extensive English top-flight experience, some sections of the Spurs fanbase remain skeptical.
This hesitation follows Frank’s highly unsuccessful transition from Brentford, a club of similar stature to Fulham.
Consequently, the relegation-threatened side have also been heavily linked with Roberto De Zerbi, who is immediately available following his recent departure from Marseille.
Persuading the Italian to take charge for the final seven matches of a perilous survival scrap may prove exceptionally difficult.
Former Tottenham favourite Mauricio Pochettino is another name circulating among supporters desperate for a return to stability.
Celtic midfielder Maria McAneny has officially scored the fastest goal in the history of women’s football by netting straight from kick-off against Hibernian in just 4.1 seconds.
The audacious halfway-line strike took place during a Scottish Women’s Premier League fixture on 21 December.
Officials have now formally ratified the timing, confirming the phenomenal effort as a new global benchmark.
A moment of historic brilliance
Spotting the opposition goalkeeper off her line, the Celtic star immediately launched a perfectly weighted lob directly from the centre circle.
The ball sailed effortlessly over the retreating defence before dipping precisely under the crossbar.
Such instantaneous goals are exceptionally rare at the elite level, requiring extraordinary vision and flawless technique to execute successfully.
Where to watch the record-breaking strike
Fans hoping to witness the spectacular moment can tune in to the official SWPL highlights show.
Full coverage of the milestone event will be broadcast on BBC Scotland.
Viewers can also stream the remarkable footage on BBC iPlayer at 19:15 GMT on Monday.