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For the 2026 World Cup, the 2026/2027 competition season, and beyond, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) will introduce a series of rule changes to the game.

“IFAB has approved a number of significant amendments to the Laws of the Game, and the 2026 World Cup will be the first major tournament to implement them,” said FIFA’s Chief Refereeing Officer, Pierluigi Collina, as reported by Al Jazeera.

“These amendments are designed to address discrimination, reduce time-wasting, speed up gameplay, and enhance the experience for both players and fans,” he added.

1. Players Covering Their Mouths During Matches

This rule comes with strict enforcement. Players who cover their mouths with their hands, arms, or shirts during confrontations will receive a red card.

However, players who cover their mouths while casually chatting with teammates or opponents will not be penalised.

The rule was introduced following a discriminatory incident involving Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni against Vinicius Jr during a Champions League match.

2. Leaving the Pitch in Protest

Players who leave the field to protest a referee’s decision will be shown a red card. The same applies to any team official who incites players to walk off in protest.

The team responsible for causing a match to stop will be declared the loser.

This rule follows the incident involving Senegal in the Africa Cup of Nations final against Morocco, when Senegalese players left the pitch to protest a referee’s penalty decision.

3. Countdown for Throw-ins and Goal Kicks

Referees will now initiate a five-second countdown by raising their arm. For throw-ins, if the ball is not back in play when the countdown ends, possession will be awarded to the opposing team.

If a goal kick is not taken before the countdown expires, a corner kick will be awarded to the opponents.

4. Player Substitutions

Players will have 10 seconds to leave the pitch after the substitution board is displayed.

They must exit at the nearest boundary point on the field.

If a substituted player fails to leave within 10 seconds, the replacement can only enter the game at the first stoppage after one minute of resumed play, once the referee gives the signal.

Exceptions will apply in cases of injury or safety concerns.

5. Off-Field Medical Treatment

If medical staff enter the field to treat a player, that player must remain off the pitch for one minute after play resumes.

Exceptions include goalkeepers, collisions involving goalkeepers and outfield players, teammate collisions requiring first aid, serious injuries, and cases where the injured player is about to take a penalty kick.

6. VAR Protocol

The VAR system will be used to review red cards issued after an incorrect second yellow card, or when a card is shown to the wrong player due to mistaken identity.

Incorrectly awarded corner kicks may also be reviewed by VAR if the decision can be corrected immediately without delaying play.

VAR can also intervene if a foul occurs before play resumes—for instance, if an attacker fouls a defender before a free kick is taken.

7. Cooling Breaks

Breaks will be taken around the midway point of each half (around the 22nd minute).

Referees will have some flexibility in determining when to pause play. For example, if a player is injured and requires treatment in the 20th minute, the referee may signal a cooling break.

8. Goalkeeper Injuries

When a goalkeeper receives treatment on the field, players from both teams must remain on the pitch and rest briefly with their coaches.

Japan Takes Advantage of the New Rules

Japan, one of the 2026 World Cup participants, has already implemented these new rules and benefited from them.

In a late-May match against New Zealand, Japan scored while their opponents were reduced to 10 men due to the substitution rule.

New Zealand winger Isak Thorvaldsson was unable to re-enter the pitch because he had to wait one minute before receiving the referee’s instruction.

During that interval, Japan managed to score just 54 seconds after Thorvaldsson was prevented from returning.

The goal, a header from Koki Ogawa in the 87th minute, secured a 1-0 victory for Japan.

“I think the players handled the adjustment to the new rules almost without any problems today,” Japan coach Hajime Moriyasu said after the match, as quoted by the BBC.

“With these new regulations, players may not be able to return to the field as quickly as before. That’s something we need to be mindful of. Whether during substitutions or other moments, we have to avoid creating gaps that give opponents an advantage,” he added.

Local Perspective on IFAB’s New Rules

Football analyst from Semarang, Gigih Windar, compared the current rule changes to the 1992 introduction of the back-pass ban to goalkeepers.

The rule was first implemented during the 1992 Olympics, according to ESPN.

It ultimately transformed how football was played and kept the game’s tempo flowing.

“After the 1992 back-pass ban to goalkeepers, football changed again—it became faster. The aim of these rule changes is really to keep the momentum going,” Gigih told Tribunnews on Thursday (4 June).

“Now players can create more opportunities to score, and games move at a faster pace, making it more entertaining for spectators,” he continued.

He believes these new rules will challenge World Cup teams in different ways.

Countries with established leagues will adapt more easily, but others may struggle as players could be prone to errors.

“For teams from strong leagues, this won’t be a huge issue. But for nations qualifying for the first time or those still building stability at the World Cup level, it could present challenges,” he explained.

These rule changes will attract attention because every team must adapt while maintaining their playing identity.

At this stage, Japan can be considered a favourite, as they have quickly adapted to the regulations that offer certain advantages.

As seen with Koki Ogawa’s goal in the 87th minute, Japan capitalised on the one-minute substitution restriction imposed on the New Zealand player.

“Japan has adapted well to these rules. They play fast football, relying on their short-range speed rather than height,” said Gigih.

This shift could disadvantage teams with players who are slower or less active in pressing.

For example, Cristiano Ronaldo’s pace is not as sharp as Bernardo Silva’s or Bruno Fernandes’s.

“Teams that rely on one or two players without pace will suffer, because they’ll struggle against teams that play with high tempo and momentum. Matches will become faster and more dynamic,” he noted.

“The game will progress more rapidly, and players will no longer be able to break momentum by wasting time or delaying goal kicks.”

“Even throw-ins, which used to be defensive tools, will now become attacking opportunities.”

“With these regulations, teams will need to adjust and strategise accordingly, even if the impact isn’t drastically significant,” he concluded.

(Tribunnews.com/Sina)