IFAB confirms new VAR checks and time-wasting clampdowns for 2026 World Cup | OneFootball

IFAB has approved a package of rule changes for the 2026 World Cup, focused on three new VAR interventions and curbing time-wasting.

The International Football Association Board confirmed the measures in a statement after its 140th annual general meeting in Wales. They will apply at the World Cup from 11 June to 19 July and in other competitions.

Video assistants can now intervene, when there is clear evidence, if a red card follows an incorrect second yellow. They may also step in if the referee penalises the wrong team, resulting in a yellow or red card shown to the wrong player, and to overturn an erroneously awarded corner, provided the check is immediate and does not delay the restart.

To curb time-wasting, referees can apply a virtual five-second countdown to slow restarts or clearances, a tool previously limited to goalkeeper possession. If it expires, the restart goes to the opponents, and a delayed clearance can become a corner.

A substituted player has 10 seconds to leave once the board is shown or the referee signals the change. If the limit is exceeded when the player finally exits, the replacement must wait until the next stoppage, leaving the team a player short in the meantime.

When medical staff enter to treat an injury, the player must leave the pitch for at least one minute before returning. Goalkeepers are exempt.

Source: L'Équipe