FIFA Shakes up 2026 World Cup With 6 Major Rule Changes to Stamp out Time-Wasting
Last update: June 10, 2026
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Goalkeepers feigning injury for a quick team huddle? Not at the 2026 World Cup. FIFA’s new rules are coming for the time-wasters.
The 2026 World Cup is getting a proper rules refresh, and FIFA means business on time-wasting. You know that scene where a keeper goes down “injured” and suddenly the whole team’s at the touchline getting tactical tips?
Yeah, that’s banned now. FIFA refs’ chief Pierluigi Collina just laid out six major rule changes for the tournament, and the message is clear: keep the game moving.
Here are the five you’ll notice straight away:
1. No more ‘tactical timeouts’
If a goalkeeper needs treatment, players from both sides have to stay put or head to the centre circle. No more sneaky team talks on the sidelines. Collina says refs will be proactive, but don’t expect yellow cards — teams have already been warned at a workshop with all 48 coaches. “The goalkeeper has the right to be injured, but the players do not have the right to leave the field for a timeout,” he said.This became a big talking point last November when Leeds boss Daniel Farke accused Man City’s Gianluigi Donnarumma of bending the rules by going down to break up play.
2. Throw-in countdown: 5 seconds
Dawdle on a throw-in and you’ll lose it. Simple.
3. Goal-kick countdown: 5 seconds
Same idea. Take too long and the opposition gets a corner.
4. Substitutions: 10-second exit
Subbed players have 10 seconds to get off at the nearest point. If not, the replacement can’t come on for at least a minute and the team plays with 10 men.
5. Off-field treatment: 60-second rule
Get treated by the physio? You’re staying off for a minute. Exceptions apply for keepers, serious injuries, or if an opponent gets booked/sent off.
6. Covering your mouth? Careful.
If you cover your mouth during a heated exchange, you could see red. This follows the February Champions League flashpoint between Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni and Real Madrid’s Vinícius Jr. Prestianni covered his mouth, Vini Jr alleged racist abuse. It couldn’t be proven, but Prestianni got a six-game UEFA ban for homophobic conduct. Collina’s line: “If the conversation is friendly, no problem. If it’s confrontational, covering the mouth means you might be doing something very wrong — and the sanction is a red card.
VAR’s getting tweaked too.
Video assistants now have more power to step in if an attacking team commits a clear foul before the ball’s in play at set-pieces, especially if it leads to a goal, penalty or card
.Collina’s hoping all this cuts the wild amounts of stoppage time we saw in 2022. Less gamesmanship, more football.
What do you think — will these changes actually kill time-wasting, or will teams just find new loopholes?
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