MLS's experimental rule changes that cut time-wasting, sped up play are going global

"The first of the two, commonly referred to as the timed substitution rule, forces a team to play a man down for a minute if a player takes longer than 10 seconds to leave the pitch. The second of the guidelines, dubbed the off-field treatment rule, removes a player from the match for a minute if they spend more than 15 seconds on the ground after an injury."

"The rule changes were staggeringly effective in both leagues. In MLS, injury-related stoppages decreased by 72%, from an average of between five and six stoppages every match down to 1.50 stoppages. The timed sub rule also made waves: in a total of 4,346 substitutions over 510 matches in 2025, there were only 12 violations."

"We saw it in Next Pro early on, when it was implemented in 2022 and we saw it very quickly in MLS two years later. These rules have been working and we believe they are good for the game. We are really excited about [both rules]."

MLS Next Pro introduced two rules four years ago to eliminate time-wasting in soccer. The timed substitution rule penalizes teams by forcing them to play with one fewer player for a minute if a player takes longer than 10 seconds to leave the pitch. The off-field treatment rule removes a player from the match for a minute if they remain on the ground for more than 15 seconds after injury. Both rules include specific exceptions for injured players, goalkeepers, serious fouls, and head injuries. After proving highly effective in MLS Next Pro starting in 2022, the rules were adopted by MLS in 2024 and Leagues Cup in 2025. The International Football Association Board is expected to adopt both rules globally ahead of the 2026 World Cup. Results show injury-related stoppages decreased by 72% in MLS, and substitution violations occurred only 12 times across 4,346 substitutions in 2025.

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