How VAR is set to change at this summer's 2026 World Cup with new corner and second yellow card powers
By Rhys Jones
Published 28/02/2026 at 15:56 GMT
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The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has approved a number of tweaks to the laws of the game and extended the powers of VAR. Changes and new measures surrounding corners, second yellow cards, time-wasting on throw-ins and goal-kicks will be introduced with the aim of enhancing match tempo and reducing time-wasting. Measures will be first used at the 2026 World Cup.
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The video assistant referee (VAR) is set to have even more control, with football's lawmakers expanding its powers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup this summer.
A variety of extensions to VAR's powers have been confirmed, including being used to check corners and second yellow cards.
The measures, approved by the International Football Association Board (IFAB) at their annual general meeting in Wales on Saturday, are part of a package designed to "enhance match tempo and reduce time-wasting across the game."
This includes measures to bring new countdowns on goal-kicks, throw-ins and substitutions.
The eight-second rule for goalkeepers brought into effect at the beginning of the season has encouraged IFAB to go further with their efforts to keep the game from slowing down.
VAR was originally introduced in the Premier League at the start of the 2019/20 season and, six years later, complaints about the process are still rife.
What is being added in?
Similar amendments to the eight-second rule are being brought in for throw-ins and goal-kicks.
Referees will soon have the power to begin a five-second countdown if players are taking too long with throw-ins and if goalkeepers take too long with goal-kicks.
For a throw-in, if the ball is not in play at the end of the countdown, the throw-in will be awarded to the opposing team.
A delayed goal-kick will result in a corner for the opposing team.
Continuing the theme of improving match flow, substituted players will have to leave the field of play within 10 seconds of the substitution board being displayed, or the referee's signal in matches where no board is used.
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The Premier League have trialled a 30-second period, but the IFAB have deemed even that too long, and have added a penalty for teams whose players fail to exit the pitch within 10 seconds.
Should the player fail to leave within this time, their team will play with one fewer player for one minute, and until the ball next goes out.
Another measure will see players who go off injured staying off the pitch for one minute of play, which doubles the Premier League's 30-second regulation.
Major League Soccer (MLS) has trialled a two-minute long period for several seasons, where players who remain on the ground for more than 15 seconds have to leave the field of play for two minutes.
Various system protocol developments have been adjusted, and where there is clear evidence, VAR will now be permitted to check and review:
- Red cards arising from a clearly incorrect second yellow card;
- Mistaken identity, when the referee penalises the wrong team for an offence resulting in a red or yellow card being shown to the wrong player; and
- Competitions may allow VAR to review a clearly incorrectly awarded corner kick, provided that the review can be completed immediately and without delaying the restart.
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Wild Bastoni dive gets Kalulu sent off before Inter defender brazenly celebrates red card
Video credit: TNT Sports
Incorrect second yellow cards are a particularly apt topic and one that certain leagues may choose to adopt and can opt out of if they desire.
Juventus defender Pierre Kalulu was on the receiving end of a controversial yellow card as a result of a dive from Inter Milan defender Alessandro Bastoni.
Under new powers, such an incident would give VAR the ability to review and rescind the card.
Whether the Premier League introduces it remains to be seen but, in the past two seasons, the Key Match Incidents Panel found 17 players were wrongly sent off for two cautions.
IFAB will also hold consultation to develop measures when players decide to leave the field of play as an act of protest against a referee’s decision or team officials instigating such action.
And measures for players covering their mouth when confronting opponents during matches.
Both come in the wake of two high-profile incidents, with the Africa Cup of Nations final being delayed because of a walk-off by Senegal players and Benfica midfielder Gianluca Prestianni allegedly racially abusing Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior during a Champions League match while his mouth was covered by his shirt.
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