IFAB Approves Landmark Law Changes for 2026-27 Season and World Cup
The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has approved a set of landmark changes to the Laws of the Game, which will be applied from the 2026-27 season onwards and at the FIFA World Cup 2026, kicking off on June 11 in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
FIFA's Chief Refereeing Officer Pierluigi Collina announced the amendments, stating that they aim to tackle discrimination, cut time-wasting, enhance match tempo, and improve both the player and fan experience. The 2026 World Cup will be the first major tournament to use these updated rules.
Players Covering Their Mouths
A player who covers their mouth with their hand, arm, or shirt in confrontational situations will receive a red card. This rule comes after Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni was accused of making discriminatory slurs to Vinicius Jr with his mouth covered, resulting in a six-game suspension by UEFA, extended worldwide. However, players covering their mouths during friendly conversations with club teammates on opposing teams will not be punished.
Players Leaving the Field of Play
Players who leave the field of play to protest a referee's decision will be shown a red card. The rule also applies to any team official who incites players to leave the field. Teams causing a match to be abandoned will forfeit the match. This change follows an incident where Senegal stormed off the field in protest at a penalty awarded against them in the Africa Cup of Nations final, before returning to beat hosts Morocco 1-0 after extra time.
Throw-In and Goal-Kick Countdowns
Referees will start a visual five-second countdown with a raised hand. If the ball is not in play by the end of the countdown, a throw-in is awarded to the opponents. For goal-kicks, if not taken within the countdown, a corner kick is awarded to the opponents.
Substitution Protocol
Players have 10 seconds to leave the field when the substitution board is shown, and must exit at the nearest point on the boundary line. If the substituted player does not leave within 10 seconds, the substitute may only enter at the first stoppage after one minute has elapsed following the restart, with the referee's signal. Exceptions include player injuries and safety or security concerns.
Off-Field Treatment
An outfield player must leave the field of play for one minute after the restart if medical staff entered the pitch to treat them. Exceptions include goalkeeper injuries, collisions between a goalkeeper and outfield player, collisions between teammates needing attention, severe injuries (such as head injuries and concussions), or when the injured player is set to take a penalty.
Video Assistant Referee (VAR) Protocol
Collina noted that VAR has been used in FIFA competitions since 2017, and it is time to reconsider the protocol written with limited experience. VAR may now intervene for: red cards issued from clearly incorrect yellow cards; mistaken identity where a player is shown a yellow or red card for an offence by another player; incorrectly awarded corner kicks if the decision can be corrected immediately without delaying the restart; and fouls committed before play restarts (e.g., an attacker fouling a defender before the ball is in play from a set-piece). IFAB stated that VAR will recommend an on-field review, and if the referee determines an offence occurred before the ball was in play, appropriate disciplinary action will be taken, and the corner kick or free kick will be retaken.
Hydration Breaks
There will be a three-minute hydration break in each half of every match, taken around the 22nd minute. Referees have flexibility with timing; for example, if a player is injured and requires treatment in the 20th minute, the referee can signal the hydration break then.
Goalkeeper Injuries
If a goalkeeper is receiving treatment on the pitch, players from both teams will not be allowed to leave the field of play for a 'timeout' with their respective coaches.
