By Francis Onyach - Reporter
Switzerland, 3 June 2026 - As preparations continue for the expanded 2026 FIFA World Cup, a wave of reports on social media has highlighted several new rule changes that are expected to be in place during the tournament. Many of these changes stem from trials approved by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) and supported by FIFA as part of ongoing efforts to reduce time-wasting, improve game flow, and increase fairness.
However, not all of the widely circulated claims are fully accurate. Some measures have been officially approved, while others remain under trial or have been misinterpreted.
One of the most significant confirmed changes concerns goalkeepers holding onto the ball for too long. IFAB has approved a rule that allows referees to award a corner kick if a goalkeeper deliberately retains possession beyond the permitted time limit. The change is designed to discourage time-wasting, particularly late in matches when teams are protecting a lead. Trials conducted in several competitions showed a noticeable reduction in delays and interruptions.
Football authorities have also continued testing stricter countdown systems for restarts such as throw-ins and goal kicks. The objective is simple: keep matches moving and prevent players from deliberately slowing the game. While versions of these countdown rules have been tested in youth and developmental competitions, FIFA has not yet formally confirmed that every proposed five-second countdown variation will be used exactly as described during the World Cup.
Another area receiving considerable attention is substitutions. Football lawmakers have become increasingly concerned about players taking excessive time to leave the pitch when substituted. New procedures are expected to require players to exit at the nearest point on the touchline rather than walking across the entire field. Competitions testing these measures have reported faster restarts and fewer opportunities for tactical delays.
Perhaps the most controversial claim circulating online involves players covering their mouths during confrontations. While referees have been instructed to take a stronger stance against dissent, intimidation, and unsporting behaviour, there is currently no standalone FIFA law stating that simply covering one's mouth automatically results in a red card. Instead, any punishment would depend on the overall conduct of the player and the nature of the incident.
VAR is also set to play a more refined role. Discussions have continued around allowing reviews of certain corner-kick decisions if a clear error is detected before play restarts. Similarly, football authorities have explored mechanisms for reviewing disciplinary incidents involving second yellow cards. However, these proposals have not been universally adopted across all competitions and remain subject to competition-specific implementation.
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The broader goal behind these adjustments is to increase the amount of active playing time during matches. Recent studies conducted by football authorities have shown that a significant portion of game time can be lost through delays involving throw-ins, goal kicks, substitutions, and injury stoppages. FIFA and IFAB believe that reducing these interruptions will improve the overall spectacle for players, coaches, and supporters.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup will already be historic for another reason: it will be the first edition to feature 48 teams, hosted jointly by United States, Canada and Mexico. With more teams, more matches, and a larger global audience than ever before, football's governing bodies are eager to ensure the tournament runs as smoothly as possible.
While fans should expect stricter enforcement against time-wasting and improved management of match restarts, it is important to distinguish between officially approved rule changes and experimental measures that are still being evaluated. As FIFA finalizes competition regulations ahead of the tournament, further clarification is expected regarding which trials will become permanent features of football's biggest event.
What is clear is that the modern game continues to evolve. The 2026 World Cup is likely to showcase not only the world's best players but also a new generation of rules designed to make football faster, fairer, and more entertaining.