FIFA Introduces Eight New Laws of the Game at 2026 World Cup: Red Cards for Mouth-Covering, Five-Second Countdowns and More

The 2026 FIFA World Cup, which opens on June 11 across the United States, Mexico, and Canada, will become the first major tournament to operate under a revised Laws of the Game after the International Football Association Board (IFAB) confirmed eight amendments ahead of the 2026-27 season.

FIFA’s Chief Refereeing Officer Pierluigi Collina outlined the rationale behind the changes, stating they are designed to address discrimination, reduce time-wasting, increase match tempo, and improve the experience for players and spectators alike.

Among the most notable additions is a straight red card for any player who covers their mouth with their hand, arm, or jersey during confrontational situations. The measure follows a high-profile incident in which Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni received a worldwide six-game suspension after being accused of directing discriminatory slurs at Vinícius Júnior while concealing his mouth. Referees are instructed not to penalise players who cover their mouths during casual exchanges, such as speaking with a former club teammate on the opposing side.

A second new rule addresses players who deliberately walk off the pitch in protest of a refereeing decision, who will now be shown a red card. The regulation extends to team officials or managers who incite their squad to leave the field, and any team that causes a match to be abandoned in such circumstances will automatically forfeit the fixture. The rule follows a widely covered incident at the Africa Cup of Nations final in which Senegal left the pitch in protest over a penalty decision before returning to defeat hosts Morocco.

Two restart-related changes will be enforced through a visual countdown. Referees will raise their hand to signal a five-second window for throw-ins and goal kicks. Failure to take a throw-in in time results in possession being transferred to the opposing team, while a goalkeeper who does not take a goal kick within five seconds will concede a corner kick to the opposition.

The substitution process has also been tightened. A substituted player will have a maximum of 10 seconds to exit the pitch via the nearest boundary line from the moment the substitution board is raised. Should a player fail to comply, the incoming substitute will be barred from entering the field until the first stoppage that occurs at least one full minute after the restart, subject to a referee signal. Exceptions apply in cases of injury or safety concerns.

Under a new rule governing off-field medical treatment, any outfield player who receives on-pitch attention must remain off the field for one full minute after play resumes. The rule is intended to discourage feigned injuries used to disrupt momentum. Exemptions cover goalkeeper injuries, severe head traumas and concussions, collisions involving teammates or opposing goalkeepers, and situations where the injured player is the designated penalty taker.

Collina also confirmed an expansion of the Video Assistant Referee protocol, noting the update addresses limitations in the original framework written when operational experience was limited. VAR can now intervene in four new scenarios: a red card mistakenly issued from an incorrect yellow card, cases of mistaken identity, clearly misplaced corner kick decisions that can be corrected without delaying a restart, and instances where an attacker commits a foul on a defender immediately before a set-piece is taken.

Given the climatic conditions expected across North American host cities during the summer tournament, mandatory three-minute hydration breaks will be incorporated into each half, scheduled around the 22nd minute. Referees retain limited flexibility over timing — for instance, if an injury occurs at the 20th minute, the official may use that stoppage as the hydration break to limit overall interruptions.

The final amendment concerns goalkeeper injury stoppages. While a goalkeeper receives on-pitch medical treatment, outfield players from both teams will be prohibited from leaving the field of play. The rule is designed to prevent teams from using such stoppages as an unofficial timeout to receive tactical instructions from coaching staff on the touchline.

Collectively, the eight changes represent one of the most substantial single-cycle revisions to the Laws of the Game in recent memory, with the 48-team 2026 World Cup — the largest in the tournament’s history — providing a global stage for their implementation.