What are the new rules at the 2026 World Cup?

The action on the field at the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be familiar to anyone who has tuned into a soccer match before, but there are a few rule changes and clarifications going into effect for this summer’s tournament.

The regulations, overall, are meant to speed up the game, ideally leading to more exciting action with the ball rolling and less dead period between shots, goals and tackles.

One of the most noticeable modifications will be referees showing players who are delaying throw-ins or goal kicks a visual countdown on their hand. If the time expires, the referee will be able to award possession to the other team.

Another tweak aimed at improving the pace of play is a rule that says players will have 10 seconds to leave the field once the fourth official shows a substitution being made.

If the player fails to leave in that time period, he still will need to leave but with the replacement not being allowed to enter until the next stoppage that occurs one minute after the delay.

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United States of America – 12th appearance

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Saudi Arabia – seventh appearance

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After a pair of high-profile incidents, another pair of red-card offenses have been added to the rule books.

Benfica winger Gianluca Prestianni covered his mouth with his shirt during a confrontation with Real Madrid‘s Vinicius Junior in a high-profile UEFA Champions League contest in February, leading to a 10-minute delay and eventually a six-match ban for homophobic conduct.

Now, no matter what players say, that type of gesture could lead to being sent off.

“At the discretion of the competition organizer, any player covering their mouth in a confrontational situation with an opponent may be sanctioned with a red card,” a FIFA news release read.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Rule changes for the 2026 FIFA World Cup

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