ZURICH – The International Football Association Board – IFAB has approved a package of rule changes aimed at cutting time-wasting and improving fairness, with the measures set to be in place for the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicking off on June 11.
The changes were approved at IFAB’s 140th Annual General Meeting and will officially become part of the Laws of the Game from July 1, 2026. However, FIFA confirmed they will be adopted early for the World Cup.
5-second countdown for restarts:
Referees will now use a visible 5-second countdown when players deliberately delay throw-ins and goal kicks.
If a throw-in is not taken before the countdown expires, possession will be awarded to the opposition. For goal kicks, failure to restart in time will result in a corner kick for the opposing team.
The move targets one of football’s most common forms of time-wasting during set pieces.
Goalkeepers face 8-second limit:
Goalkeepers will also be under tighter time controls. If a keeper holds the ball for more than 8 seconds, the opposition will be awarded a corner kick.
Referees will count the first 3 seconds silently before raising an arm and showing the final 5 seconds with a visible countdown.
VAR gets wider powers:
Video Assistant Referees will be able to intervene in three additional situations where there is clear evidence of an error:
1. Red cards resulting from a wrong second yellow card
2. Cases of mistaken identity for yellow or red cards
3. Corner kicks clearly awarded in error
VAR will not be used to award corners that were not given, and reviews must happen quickly before the restart to avoid disrupting the flow of the game.
IFAB said the changes are designed to keep the game moving while giving officials better tools to correct clear mistakes. The 2026 World Cup will be the first major tournament to trial the full package on the global stage.
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