Ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, football’s lawmakers have unveiled eight significant changes to the Laws of the Game that are set to transform the sport.

The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has officially approved the amendments, which will come into effect from the 2026–27 season.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, scheduled to kick off on June 11 across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, is expected to be the first major global tournament to showcase these new regulations.

According to FIFA Chief Refereeing Officer Pierluigi Collina, the changes are aimed at combating discrimination, reducing time-wasting, increasing the pace of matches, and enhancing the overall experience for players, officials, and supporters alike.

Here are the eight new laws set to debut at the tournament:

FIFA Introduces Guidelines On Mouth-Covering By Players

To promote transparency and discourage misconduct on the pitch, players who deliberately cover their mouths with a hand, arm, or shirt during heated exchanges or confrontations could face a straight red card.

The rule follows growing concerns over players using mouth-covering gestures to conceal offensive, abusive, or discriminatory remarks from officials and cameras.

It gained prominence after Benfica youngster Gianluca Prestianni received a six-match suspension for allegedly directing discriminatory comments at Vinícius Júnior while shielding his mouth.

However, the regulation is not intended to punish routine interactions. Players will still be permitted to cover their mouths during harmless conversations, such as friendly exchanges with teammates or opponents, provided there is no suspicion of misconduct.

New Rules Governing Players Exiting The Pitch

In a move aimed at reinforcing respect for match officials, any player who deliberately leaves the field of play to protest a referee’s decision will face an immediate red card.

The regulation extends beyond players, with team officials and managers also subject to sanctions if they encourage or instruct their players to abandon the pitch in protest. Should a team cause a match to be abandoned under such circumstances, it will automatically forfeit the game.

The amendment follows several high-profile incidents involving on-field protests, including a controversial Africa Cup of Nations final in which Senegal temporarily walked off the pitch in protest of a penalty decision before eventually returning to defeat hosts Morocco. FIFA believes stricter penalties will help prevent similar situations and preserve the authority of match officials.

The rule is designed to ensure that disputes are addressed through the proper channels rather than through actions that disrupt the flow and integrity of a match.

Stricter Timing Rules For Throw-Ins And Goal Kicks

To reduce delays and keep matches flowing, referees will enforce a visible five-second countdown during throw-ins and goal-kicks by raising a hand to signal the remaining time.

Players who fail to take a throw-in before the countdown expires will lose possession, with the throw-in awarded to the opposing team.

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Goalkeepers face an even harsher consequence. If a goal-kick is not taken within the allotted five seconds, the opposition will be rewarded with a corner kick, creating an immediate attacking opportunity.

The new rule is designed to discourage time-wasting tactics, increase the amount of ball-in-play time, and maintain a faster tempo throughout matches.

FIFA Updates Substitution Protocol

Substituted players will be required to leave the field within 10 seconds of the substitution board being shown, exiting via the nearest boundary point.

Failure to comply with the time limit will result in a penalty for the incoming substitute, who will only be allowed onto the pitch at the next stoppage after one full minute of play has passed following the restart, and only upon the referee’s signal.

Exceptions to this rule will apply in cases involving injury or urgent safety and security concerns.

New Guidelines For Off-Field Medical Treatment

To discourage simulation of injuries used to disrupt match rhythm, any outfield player who receives medical treatment on the pitch will be required to remain off the field for one minute after play resumes.

However, the regulation includes strict welfare-based exemptions, meaning the mandatory absence period will not apply in all situations.

The rule does not apply to goalkeepers, cases of serious head injuries or suspected concussions, collisions involving teammates or opposing goalkeepers, or situations where the injured player is the designated penalty taker.

Expanded VAR Protocol Introduced

Noting that the original protocol was created when operational experience was still limited, Collina confirmed that VAR will now be empowered to intervene in four additional specific situations.

The video assistant referee can recommend an on-field review when a red card is incorrectly issued following a mistaken yellow card or in cases of misidentified players.

VAR will also be allowed to correct clearly incorrect corner-kick decisions, provided the adjustment can be made immediately without disrupting the restart. In addition, it may intervene when an attacking player commits a foul on a defender just before play resumes from a set-piece.

Compulsory Hydration Breaks Introduced

To address player fatigue and extreme weather conditions across the North American host cities, a mandatory three-minute hydration break will be introduced in each half of every match.

These breaks are scheduled to occur around the 22nd minute of each half.

Referees will have limited flexibility in timing the stoppage. For instance, if an injury occurs near the 20th minute, the official may bring forward the hydration break to reduce the number of interruptions during play.

New Restrictions On Goalkeeper Injury Stoppages

When a goalkeeper is being treated on the pitch, outfield players from both teams will not be permitted to leave the field of play.

The rule is intended to prevent teams from exploiting goalkeeper injury stoppages as unofficial timeouts, where players gather near the touchline to receive tactical instructions from coaching staff.