The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has approved a series of new laws set to be introduced which are aimed at improving match flow and reducing time-wasting in football.
The new rules were announced on Saturday, February 28, 2026, after its 140th general meeting which was hosted in Wales. IFAB announced four new rules which are expected to be implemented at the 2026 FIFA World Cup and at the start of the 2026/27 football season.
One of the biggest changes includes much stricter measures on restarts such as throw-ins and goal kicks, where referees can apply visible countdowns to prevent delays. If a team fails to restart play within the allotted time, possession may be handed to the opposition.
There is also a new rule on players' substitutions, these players will also be required to leave the pitch more quickly to avoid unnecessary stoppages. The Video Assistant Referees ( VAR) have also been given additional responsibilities as they will now be permitted to intervene in additional factual errors, including incorrect second yellow cards, cases of mistaken identity, and wrongly awarded corner kicks where possible.
These changes are designed to improve fairness and ensure that clear officiating mistakes can be corrected without significantly disrupting the rhythm of the game.
What are the new IFAB laws?
-VAR for corners & 2nd yellows
-5-second countdown on throws and goal-kicks
-10-second countdown on subs
-Wenger's "daylight" offside rule will be trialled in Canada from April
When will the new IFAB laws kick start?
The new laws will be implemented ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which kicks off in June 2026, before being formally integrated into the 2026/27 laws of the Game from July 1, 2026.
IFAB says the objective behind these reforms is to speed up matches, discourage tactical delays, and modernise officiating standards across global competitions.
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