New VAR rules & time wasting limits brought in for 2026 World Cup

"Corners and second yellow cards will be added to the scope of the video assistant referee (VAR) for this summer's World Cup. Other rule changes for the 2026 World Cup will include new rules in place to cut down on time wasting by teams to ensure games flow more quickly. This will be achieved by countdowns on goal kicks, throw-ins, and substitutions, which have so often been taken slowly by teams if they're protecting a narrow lead late in games."

"Other new rules will be trialled soon, including Arsene Wenger's recommended new offside law. This would require clear daylight between an attacker and the last defender, with the current law often criticised due to goals being chalked off just by virtue of a player being just millimetres ahead of an opponent, barely gaining any meaningful advantage at all."

The 2026 World Cup will implement significant rule changes involving VAR expansion and time management. Corners and second yellow cards will be added to VAR's scope, allowing referees to review these incidents via pitch-side screens. To combat time-wasting, countdowns will be introduced for goal kicks, throw-ins, and substitutions, ensuring faster game flow. Additionally, Arsene Wenger's recommended offside law will be trialled, requiring clear daylight between attackers and defenders rather than marginal positioning decisions. New measures will also address players covering their mouths during play, following recent incidents in professional football.

Read at www.caughtoffside.com