The World Cup has arrived, with 48 nations ready to chase football’s biggest prize across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
England will travel with familiar hopes of ending 60 years of waiting for a major men’s global triumph, though the road to glory is expected to be fiercely contested by heavyweights including France, Spain, Argentina and Brazil.
This edition is set to feel different from the outset, not least because the tournament has grown from 32 teams to 48. Conditions could also become a major talking point, with heat and extreme summer weather likely to influence matches in several host cities.
Off the pitch, supporters should also expect some changes in the way games are managed by officials during the six-week tournament.
To make sense of what is changing, Daily Mail Sport has taken a closer look at the key rule adjustments being introduced at the World Cup…
Several rule changes are being introduced for the World Cup in the US, Canada and Mexico
An end to ‘tactical timeouts’
One notable change targets the controversial tactic of goalkeepers going down with injuries, a move that has often allowed outfield players to gather near the touchline and receive instructions from their managers.
The practice has become widely known as a “tactical timeout” and has been criticised as a loophole used to disrupt the rhythm of matches. The issue drew fresh attention in November when Leeds manager Daniel Farke accused Manchester City goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma of feigning injury to “bend the rules” and halt play.
Under the new regulations, players will not be allowed to go to the touchline, rather they must remain where they are or come together in the centre circle.
However, FIFA referees’ chief Pierluigi Collina said there wouldn’t be disciplinary action for players who do go over to the touchline.
The impact of the change may be limited though given the governing body have introduced a three-minute hydration break in each half, something that has created an organised timeout for teams anyway.
Meanwhile, any outfield player who is treated by the physio must remain off the field for at least 60 seconds.
There will be exceptions, including for some injuries, if the opponent is booked or sent off, and if the fouled player is due to take a penalty.
FIFA have made an effort to end ‘tactical timeouts’ when goalkeepers go down injured
Time limits on restarts
Countdowns for both throw-ins and goal-kicks will be in force at the World Cup, with players having five seconds to restart play on both occasions.
For throw-ins, if they breach this time limit, it will be awarded to the other team, while for goal-kicks, a corner will be given.
In the Premier League there was a time limit in place on goalkeepers releasing the ball in open play for the 2025-26 season of eight seconds.
Burnley goalkeeper Martin Dubravka was famously the first player to fall victim to this when he conceded a corner against Tottenham on the opening day of the campaign.
Players will also only have 10 seconds to leave the field after they are substituted.
They must leave the pitch at the nearest point and if they fail to go off in that time, their replacement will not be allowed to enter the field for at least one minute and his team-mates will have to continue with 10 players.
There will be time limits on how long players have to restart play following various stoppages
Referees will enforce the time limits which could see dead-ball situations reversed
New rules on players covering their mouths
If a player covers their mouth with their hand, arm or shirt during a confrontational situation with another player, they could receive a red card.
This comes following the controversy between Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni and Real Madrid star Vinicius Jnr back in February during a Champions League game.
The Brazilian accused Prestianni of racially abusing him. This wasn’t proven but Prestianni, who had covered his mouth, subsequently received a six-game ban for homophobic conduct.
However, if the conversation is ‘friendly’, players will not be punished.
This has become common practice in post-match engagements in recent years as players try to avoid having their conversations picked up on TV by lip-readers.
Collina added: ‘If the conversation is friendly, they can continue to do it without any problem.
‘When the conversation is confrontational, covering the mouth means that you are doing something very wrong, potentially, and the sanction is the red card.’
Elsewhere, if any players walk off the pitch in protest at a refereeing decision – as famously evidenced in the AFCON final between Senegal and Morocco – they will be red carded.
Coaches or team officials who encourage their team to do this will also face a similar punishment, while any country responsible for a match being abandoned will be forced to forfeit the match.
Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni was accused of racially abusing Real Madrid star Vinicius Jnr while he had his mouth covered back in February
Increased VAR powers
As well as the usual VAR-related interventions, in the World Cup we can expect to see even more involvement from technology.
As part of the new rules, VAR can now review second yellow cards – something that was previously not permitted – alongside incidents of mistaken identity and wrongly-awarded corner kicks.
Officials will also be to give their verdict on fouls that are committed before the ball is in play from set-pieces, with referees allowed to review any offences that take place via the monitor. Arsenal take note…
However, for the intervention on second yellow cards, it can only be done for those that are wrongly awarded, rather than re-refereeing games and then handing out a second booking.
The corner-related VAR checks must only correct obvious errors and won’t be allowed to delay the restart of play.
