2026 World Cup: FIFA prepares a revolution for VAR | OneFootball

Coupe du Monde 2026

Just hours before the 2026 World Cup draw, FIFA announces a groundbreaking change for VAR during next summer's tournament.

In just a few hours (6pm French time), we'll finally know the group stage lineups for the 2026 World Cup. Teams will then be able to finalize their preparations, book their base camps, and arrange hotels for away fixtures. As is often the case with major tournaments, this will also be a moment of significant changes. One major evolution is expected for VAR, as revealed by Pierluigi Collina during an appearance in Washington for the draw event.

Indeed, FIFA's head of refereeing is looking to push VAR to the next level. The technology was the headline innovation at the 2018 World Cup in Russia, playing a decisive role for Les Bleus in their opening match against Australia. This time, video assistant refereeing could be used to confirm or overturn corner kick decisions. "I believe our collective goal should be to make the right decisions on the pitch. It would be a shame if the outcome of a tournament were determined not by players’ actions on the field, but by an honest mistake from the decision-maker," he began.

According to Collina, the nature of the game allows for this innovation, and VAR intervention at this stage shouldn't slow down play too much: "The main criterion is the absence of delay. With corners, there’s a natural pause—when a corner is awarded, teams typically wait for the two central defenders to move up. It usually takes 10 to 15 seconds for the attackers to get set. During these 10 to 15 seconds, if the corner was awarded wrongly, everyone can see clear evidence that the decision should be corrected."