2026 World Cup: New Red Card Rules for Protests, VAR Gets More Power

The 2026 World Cup will be the first with 48 teams and 104 matches. It will also introduce major changes to soccer rules. FIFA wants to increase actual playing time and reduce interruptions. The new rules include direct red cards for certain protests. Players who cover their mouths with a hand, arm, or shirt while arguing with an opponent will be sent off. Leaving the field to protest a referee’s decision, or encouraging teammates to do the same, will also result in a red card. FIFA is also targeting time-wasting. Goalkeepers will have five seconds to release the ball. If they take longer, the other team gets a corner kick. The same five-second limit applies to throw-ins. If a player delays, possession goes to the other team. Substitutions will be faster. Players must leave the field at the nearest point within ten seconds. If they take longer, the new player must wait one minute before entering, leaving the team short-handed. Medical breaks will also be stricter. Players treated on the field must leave before returning. Two three-minute hydration breaks will be added per match, with the time added to stoppage time. Referees will stop players from using breaks for tactical talks. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) will have more power. It can now review incorrect corner kicks and turn them into goal kicks. It can also review a second yellow card that leads to a red card. VAR can still review direct red cards and cases where the referee punished the wrong player. FIFA will not change handball rules in the penalty area. Instead, it will send explanatory material to teams to ensure consistent interpretation. The tournament starts on June 11, 2026, in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.