Pierluigi Collina outlines 2026 World Cup refereeing changes, countdowns and expanded VAR | OneFootball

Pierluigi Collina has set out the refereeing changes for the 2026 World Cup, which runs from 11 June to 19 July, aiming to clamp down on time-wasting and quicken play. He oversees 170 referees for the tournament.

Ouest-France and L'Equipe report that FIFA’s four priorities are tackling discrimination, ending time-wasting, increasing the tempo, and improving experiences for players and fans.

To curb delays, countdowns will apply when a player leaves the pitch, 10 seconds, and for goal kicks or throw-ins, 5 seconds, with penalties for breaches. If a goalkeeper delays, a goal kick will become a corner, a throw-in can be reversed, and if a player takes too long to depart, his team must wait until the first stoppage one minute after he has gone off.

VAR will also cover more situations, including corner awards, mistaken identity for yellow cards, and second yellows that lead to a dismissal.

Players are now barred from covering their mouths during a heated exchange, a response to recent incidents. In the spring, Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni was banned for six matches after a Champions League row with Vinicius Jr, and at the World Cup similar behaviour could bring a red card.

A few months after a chaotic Africa Cup of Nations final, any player or staff member who leaves the field mid-match in protest will also be sent off. Cooling breaks in both halves had already been confirmed.

Source: Le Progres