A Look at the New Rules for the 2026 World Cup: Timed Substitutions to Prevent Time-Wasting, Mandatory Cooling Breaks

(Central News Agency Website) The 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off on the 11th. The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has approved a series of new measures this year to accelerate the pace of the game, reduce time-wasting, and increase the spectacle. Additionally, to prevent players from suffering dehydration and heatstroke due to high temperatures, cooling breaks will be implemented in all matches. The Central News Agency has compiled the new rules to be implemented in this World Cup for readers.

When a referee deems that a player is taking too long or deliberately delaying a throw-in or goal kick, a 5-second countdown will be initiated. If the player has not thrown the ball into play by the end of the countdown, possession will be awarded to the opposing team. If a goal kick is delayed, the opposing team will be awarded a corner kick.

A substituted player must leave the field of play quickly within 10 seconds of the substitution board being displayed or the referee signaling the substitution. If the player does not leave within the stipulated time, the substitute player must wait on the sideline until one minute has passed after the game restarts and before the referee blows the whistle to stop play. This means the team delaying the substitution will be at a temporary numerical disadvantage of 10 players against 11.

To prevent players from tactically feigning injury to waste time and disrupt the opponent's attacking rhythm, if a player receives an injury check on the field or the match is stopped due to an injury, that player must leave the field and cannot return until one minute has passed after the game restarts.

However, if a player is injured due to a foul by an opponent, and that opponent receives a red or yellow card warning, the injured player does not need to leave the field and can continue playing.

The maximum time a goalkeeper can hold the ball has been adjusted from the previous 6 seconds to 8 seconds. If the goalkeeper exceeds this time limit, a corner kick will be awarded to the opposing team.

The scope of VAR (Video Assistant Referee) intervention has been expanded. It can now review red cards resulting from a second yellow card due to a clear error by the referee, or penalties awarded to the wrong team due to mistaken identity, preventing major misjudgments that could affect the match result.

Furthermore, VAR is also allowed to review corner kick decisions, provided the replay can be completed immediately and does not delay the restart of play.

In addition to deliberate handball and serious foul play potentially resulting in a red card, the red card rules for this year's World Cup have been updated. If a player deliberately covers their mouth during a verbal confrontation with an opponent, the referee can show a red card depending on the situation.

Any player who leaves the field without permission to protest a referee's decision will also face a red card penalty. This rule also applies to team officials who incite players to leave the field.

Previously, "Cooling Breaks" were implemented at the discretion of the referee when the Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) measured on-site exceeded 32 degrees Celsius. As this tournament takes place during the Northern Hemisphere summer, with intense heat expected in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, FIFA has mandated that all matches at the 2026 World Cup must include a 3-minute break at the 22nd and 67th minutes, regardless of weather conditions, to allow players to hydrate. Furthermore, implementing this uniformly across all matches ensures that all teams compete under exactly the same conditions, guaranteeing fairness. (Editor: Lin Xiangyun) 1150610