VAR, timewasting and subs - World Cup law changes explained

Here is the latest breaking news from around the world: VAR, timewasting and subs - World Cup law changes explainedImage source, Getty ImagesImage caption, Michael Oliver is one of 51 referees who will take charge of games at the 2026 World CupByDale Johnson Football issues correspondentPublished4 hours agoThe 2026 World Cup is going to be unprecedented for a variety of reasons - and that includes the sheer number of law changes. Fifa has introduced 11 measures specifically for the tournament. Pierluigi Collina, the head of referees, is determined to speed up the matches and to reduce the potential for match-changing mistakes.

But get used to them, because you will see most applied in the Premier League, English Football League and Scottish Premiership next season. There are new powers for the video assistant referee (VAR), a whole host of measures to protect the tempo of the game and a couple of adjustments around player behaviour. Here is what you need to look out for and how the new laws will work.

The Details

Football Daily podcast: The New World Cup 2026 Rulebook Time-saving measures for goal-kicks, throw-ins and substitutionsFixing timewasting has been one of Collina's top issues for quite a few years. At the Qatar World Cup in 2022, the Italian told his officials to be precise and add everything on to stoppage time. The opening matches all exceeded 100 minutes, with 24 minutes added on across both halves for England's 6-2 win over Iran.

For this World Cup, the plan is to make sure players get on with the game and save lost time this way. The idea is not strict enforcement, but deterrent measures to alter player behaviour. Countdowns for goal-kicks and throw-ins (five seconds): If a player deliberately delays the restart of play, a goal-kick could become a corner or the throw given to the opposition.

The count will not begin when the ball goes out of play. A referee will choose to activate it if a player is taking too long. Like the eight-second countdown after a goalkeeper has caught the ball, the referee will visibly make a count by moving an arm up and down.

What Experts Say

This law change should be a deterrent to goalkeepers who take a long time over their kicks towards the end of games. Previously, the only tool a referee would really have is to show one yellow card. And the keeper might just keep on doing it knowing an official is not likely to book them twice and be forced to send them off.

It is hoped that conceding a corner which could lead to conceding a goal is a more effective deterrent. Time-limited substitutions (10 seconds): Substituted players have 10 seconds to leave the field at the nearest point. If they fail to do so, the substitute cannot enter the field for at least one minute and the team must play with 10 players.

There are a couple of exemptions - if a player is injured or there are security concerns about where they can go off, though the latter should not be an issue at the World Cup. The new law says that the substitute will not be able to come on until play next stops.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.