June 1, 2026
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup set to kick off across the United States, Canada and Mexico, football’s lawmakers, the International Football Association Board (IFAB), have approved a series of rule changes aimed at reducing time-wasting, improving officiating and speeding up the game.
FIFA referees chief Pierluigi Collina confirmed that several new regulations will be enforced at the tournament, including restrictions on goalkeeper “tactical timeouts” and expanded VAR powers.
The new rules are designed to reduce time-wasting, discourage gamesmanship and improve decision-making at the World Cup. FIFA also hopes the measures will cut down on excessive stoppage time, which became a major talking point at the 2022 tournament.
The 2026 World Cup will be the first edition featuring 48 teams, making it the largest tournament in FIFA history.
