Four new rules. Innovations set for the 2026 World Cup

The 2026 World Cup will take place this summer, and the countdown to the global showpiece is gathering pace. It is now known that several new rules will be in effect at the tournament.

Details: According to BBC, four new regulations will be introduced at the World Cup. The first concerns substitutions: a player will have 10 seconds to leave the pitch when being replaced. If the process takes longer, the incoming player must wait at least one minute before entering the field of play.

When a footballer requests medical assistance, he will be required to leave the pitch for one minute. In addition, VAR will be permitted to review a second yellow card or corner-kick decisions if a clear error is identified.

The fourth change relates to time-wasting. If the referee deems that time is being deliberately delayed during a throw-in or goal kick, a five-second countdown will begin. Should the ball not be put back into play within that time, possession will be awarded to the opposing team — a throw-in in the first instance, or a corner kick if the infringement occurs during a goal kick.

Reminder: Mehdi Taj, president of the Iranian Football Federation, made a sensational statement on national television, casting doubt on the current format of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.