The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has announced multiple rule changes ahead of the 2026 World Cup. The updates include expanded use of video assistant referee (VAR) powers, intended to give officials broader authority to review key incidents during matches. IFAB also introduces new substitution timing rules, including a requirement that substitutes are made within 10 seconds, aiming to speed up the restart process.
In addition, the regulations tighten enforcement around tactical timeouts. Coverage of the announcements says IFAB is moving to restrict or ban tactical timeouts during games, with measures designed to reduce time-wasting and improve continuity.
Both outlets describe the package as a “raft” of changes that will affect how matches are managed, particularly around decision review, match tempo, and stoppages. The announcements are positioned as major adjustments to the match-day rules that will apply at the 2026 tournament.
