World Cup 2026 rules: VAR on corners and second yellows, throw-in countdowns | OneFootball

FIFA and IFAB have approved a raft of law changes for the 2026 World Cup, expanding VAR’s remit and imposing time limits to curb timewasting.

According to yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk, the updates were confirmed after an IFAB meeting at the weekend and take immediate effect.

VAR may now confirm whether a corner was correctly awarded, but not goal kicks, and only if a timely decision is possible before the restart. It can also review a yellow that leads to a dismissal for two bookings, but potential yellows are not reviewed.

Teams have five seconds to take goal kicks and throw-ins, with a visible countdown. If a delay is deemed deliberate, a throw-in switches to the opponents and a goal kick becomes a corner, though there is leeway when the ball has not been returned.

Substitutions are timed too, with outgoing players required to exit at the nearest point within 10 seconds, or their replacement waits one minute. Iceland fell foul in a friendly against Japan in Tokyo when a player did not leave in time and Isak Thorvaldsson was barred. Japan scored the only goal during that minute with Iceland down to 10 men.

Players treated off the pitch must remain off for at least one minute, with exceptions for goalkeepers, head injuries, collisions and when the injured player is due to take a penalty. Teams are no longer permitted to huddle at the technical area after goalkeeper injuries, and although referees will disperse such gatherings, there are no direct sanctions.

Source: yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk