New World Cup rules, explained: VAR at corners, 10-second subs and more to know in 2026

Considered the most iconic competition in the sport, the FIFA World Cup isn't often the testing ground for new rules.

Yet with the game seemingly at a crossroads with the rapidly changing tactical narrative in the sport, the official rules adjudication body, the International Football Association Board — or IFAB for short — decided to enact a litany of new regulations and guidelines for the 2026 tournament.

With soccer trending towards a greater focus on set-pieces, which brought criticism amongst fans who felt there was too much focus on dead-ball situations while experiencing a subsequent downturn in open-play time, IFAB deemed it necessary to make changes to discourage "dark arts."

The Sporting News explains all the new rules, guidelines, and punishments that referees have at their disposal for the 2026 tournament in North America.

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New World Cup rules, explained

There are a number of amended rules for the 2026 World Cup, which could lead to a bit of confusion for the watching world, at least at first.

• VAR at corners
• 10-second sub time limit
• Five-second throw-in time limit
• Five-second goal kick time limit
• Keeper "tactical timeouts"
• Players covering their mouths
• Walking off in protest against ref decisions
• VAR for second yellows

Let us take you through the changes.

VAR on fouls before corner is taken

As the rule was previously written, VAR could only intervene to whistle for a foul once the ball was put in play. Thus, any fouling occurring before the ball is kicked on a set-piece, such as a corner or free-kick, would not trigger a VAR review unless it continued after play restarts (unless the offence was for violent conduct).

That will be changing during the World Cup. IFAB has approved an amendment to the VAR guidelines that allows the replay referee to step in and call a foul for actions that occur before a corner is delivered.

This could see the set-piece re-taken, as well as potential disciplinary action depending on the severity of the infraction.

10-second substitution time limit

To prevent time-wasting using substitutions, there will now be a 10-second time limit for substituted players to exit the pitch to the nearest perimeter.

If players do not comply and take longer to depart the playing field, the incoming player will then be forced to delay their introduction to the next stoppage in play that occurs at least one minute later, leaving the substituting team down a man for that time.

Exceptions will of course apply to the departure of injured players, or if there is some other safety or security concern that would cause the swap to be delayed.

This has been tested in Major League Soccer, and FIFA head of officiating Pierluigi Collina said this has been a success. It was put on global display in a pre-World Cup friendly between Japan and Iceland, when, in the 80th minute, Kristian Hlynsson took too long to exit the playing field, forcing Iceland to play the next 60 seconds a man down. During that time, Japan scored the only goal of their 1-0 victory.

In addition, players who are receiving treatment from medical staff on the pitch will be required to remain off the field for at least one minute after play restarts. The hope is that this will help crack down on players wasting time by receiving unnecessary treatment.

There will be exceptions made for goalkeepers, head injuries, or situations where the injured player is going to take a penalty.

Five-second throw-in time limit

IFAB also agreed to institute a crackdown on time-wasting via throw-ins.

Upon the ball going out of play and being awarded to one team or another, the assistant referee will begin counting five seconds.

If the ball is not released in that time, possession can be awarded to the opponent via a throw-in in the opposite direction.

Five-second goal kick limit

Similar to the rule on throw-ins, goalkeepers will have five seconds to restart play from a goal kick. If the referee decides they have taken too long, a corner will be awarded to the opposition.

In both instances, the referee will signal when a countdown has begun, so players cannot claim to be in ignorance.

Goalkeeper timeouts no longer allowed

IFAB has intended to crack down on the growing scourge of goalkeepers feigning injuries, allowing for a stoppage in play during which the players would go to the sidelines for a makeshift "tactical timeout."

While adjudicating whether a player is serious or not about an injury is difficult, the lawmaking body has efforted to stamp out the perceived benefits of this unsavory practice. IFAB stated it will not allow teams to congregate around the technical area during these stoppages.

The referees do not have the ability to dish out punishments, but they will be encouraged to prevent teams from convening around the touchline or leaving the field of play.

"We will not allow the teams going to the benches when a goalkeeper is lying on the ground injured," Collina said. "The goalkeeper has the right to be injured, but the players do not have the right to leave the field of play to have some sort of time out with their respective coaches.

"I'm afraid we didn't get a shared solution [on sanctions], a solution agreed by everybody. For this season, IFAB didn't take any decision. Certainly something will be done in the future. For the time being, we rely on players' understanding of the problem."

Covering your mouth during contentious moments

IFAB instituted a new rule in the most recent edition of the Laws of the Game that allows referees to take action on players who conceal their mouths when being aggressive towards others.

Any player who covers their mouth during "confrontational situations" — in effect, to hide what they might be saying from cameras — will be given a red card, with FIFA and IFAB hoping this stamps out such practice and further enables them to combat things like racial abuse.

This rule came about in the immediate aftermath of the Champions League incident between Gianluca Prestianni and Vinicius Jr, where Vini alleged that Prestianni racially abused him, but because Prestianni had covered his mouth, it was impossible to verify. Prestianni was later found to have used homophobic language and was given a six-game suspension.

Walking off the pitch in protest

According to the new IFAB regulations, any player walking off the pitch in protest against a referee decision will be shown a red card.

Additionally, any team that leaves the field in such fashion, delaying the match, will forfeit the game.

This comes in the aftermath of the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations final where Senegal walked off the field and spent 25 minutes in the dressing room after a controversial penalty decision that went against them. They were allowed to continue after eventually returning to the pitch, winning in extra-time but seeing their title stripped by the African confederation for their protest.

VAR can be used for certain second yellow cards

VAR has previously been unable to get involved in yellow-card decisions, even when a player receives a second yellow and is therefore sent off. The video official could only recommend an offence be upgraded to or downgraded from red.

That will change slightly at the World Cup, although only for very specific instances.

Moving forward, VAR can intervene in cases of mistaken identity for a second yellow card. Additionally, VAR can intervene when a "clear and obvious error" has been made in showing a player a second yellow card. VAR cannot intervene in instances where a second yellow was not shown but should have been.