The 2026 FIFA World Cup will see some changes involving players covering their mouths and timed substitutions, among other areas. These new rules were put in place by the International Football Association Board (IFAB).
New Rules for the 2026 World Cup
Any player who uses their hand, arm or shirt to cover their mouth while confronting an opponent will be issued a red card. The rule stems from the Champions League incident earlier this season involving Real Madrid star Vinicius Jr. and Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni.
Once a player is called to be substituted, they have 10 seconds to find the nearest exit. If they don’t, the substitute player will have to wait a minute for the next stoppage to enter the pitch, meaning their team will temporarily play with 10 men.
In the event a referee feels a player is taking too long on a throw in or corner kick, a five-second countdown will begin. If the ball is not in play by then, the referee can switch possession to the defending team.
With players set to face grueling heat across the three countries, hydration breaks will be included in each half to allow for a few minutes of recovery.
The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) will also be able to review new instances, including if an outfield player needs treatment by the medical staff, they have to leave the field for one minute, unless it’s due to a collision, signs of severe injury, or if they are a goalkeeper.
Original reporting: NBC4 Los Angeles — read the source article.
