In football, the fight against deliberate time delays is becoming increasingly fierce. Before the 2026 World Cup, FIFA and IFAB approved new rules aimed at increasing the pace of the game, clearing matches of stoppages, and strengthening the accuracy of refereeing. These innovations were approved at the annual IFAB meeting on February 28 and can also be applied at the World Cup.
One of the most discussed changes is the substitution limit. According to the new regulations, the player being substituted must leave the field within 10 seconds of the scoreboard being raised or the referee's signal. If he deliberately prolongs the time, he will still come out, but the substitute will not be immediately allowed into the game - he will be able to enter the field at least a minute after the restart and only at the first stoppage. This makes extending time not a "minor trick," but a decision that harms the team itself.
Another important innovation is the procedure related to medical care. If a player undergoes an on-field check-up or the game is suspended due to injury, they will have to stay outside the field for at least one minute after the game resumes. This rule works especially against cases of "using an injury" to artificially slow down the tempo of the game.
Judges are being given more broad powers to control time. If the team deliberately stretches during an out or goal kick, the referee starts the 5-second open score. If the ball is not put into play during this time, the out is given to the opponent, and a delayed goal kick becomes a corner kick for the opposing team. In short, now every second is truly counted.
There is also a serious change in VAR. According to the new decision, if a clear and obvious error is detected, the video referee can now help the referee in cases such as suspensions after a second yellow card, incorrectly awarded corner balls, and improper punishment of a person. This is expected to reduce the number of controversial episodes and increase the possibility of correcting "mistaken" decisions.
In short, football is becoming faster, harder, and more calculated. Now it is much more expensive to kill time, delay switching, or break the tempo with small pauses. This is good news for fans: the game seems to be moving towards more action, fewer breaks, and more fair decisions.
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