🚨 More power for VAR? Several rule changes from the World Cup | OneFootball

World football is experiencing a true revolution in its rules. As the International Football Association Board (IFAB) officially decided today, a total of six rules will be changed in the future. The rule changes are set to take effect for the first time at the 2026 World Cup and will primarily grant even more rights to the VAR.

1. Time Rule Now Also Applies to Goal Kicks and Throw-ins

The eight-second rule currently applies to goalkeepers’ goal kicks and throws – including the referee publicly counting down the last five seconds.

In the future, this principle will also be extended to goal kick and throw-in situations. When the countdown begins will be at the discretion of the referee.

If a goal kick is delayed for too long, the opposing team – as is already the case with goal kicks or throws – will receive a corner kick. If time-wasting occurs during a throw-in, the ball goes to the opponent.

2. Time Limit for Substitutions

Starting next season, substituted players will have only ten seconds to leave the field after the substitution is indicated.

If a player does not comply, the intended substitute may only enter the field at the next stoppage in play.

3. Treated Players Must Stay Off for One Minute

Injured outfield players should continue to be treated off the field to keep interruptions as short as possible.

What’s new: After leaving the pitch, a player must wait at least one minute before returning, regardless of the duration of treatment.

This is intended to prevent treatments from being used deliberately to waste time – while also ensuring that players can receive treatment without time pressure.

4. VAR May Correct Yellow-Red Cards

In the future, the VAR may intervene if the second caution before a yellow-red card was clearly and obviously incorrect.

However, if a yellow-red card is not shown at all, nothing changes: the VAR may still not intervene in this case.

5. VAR Can Correct Incorrect Corner Decisions

Clearly incorrect decisions regarding corner kicks may be corrected in the future – but only if the error is recognized immediately and can be rectified without significant delay.

The VAR is therefore not supposed to check every corner kick in detail.

6. More VAR Powers in Case of Player Mix-Ups

Until now, the VAR could intervene if a player was mistaken for another when issuing a personal penalty – but only within the same team.

In the future, the VAR may also intervene if a player from the wrong team is mistakenly sanctioned.

What do you think about the rule changes? Feel free to share your opinion in the comments.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇩🇪 here.

📸 Christian Kaspar-Bartke - 2026 Getty Images