WORLD CUP 2026: REFEREEING UPDATES

• 5-Second Limit:
Throw-ins and goal kicks must be taken within 5 seconds, or possession turns over.

• 10-Second Substitutions:
Players must leave the field within 10 seconds, or the replacement player is delayed by 1 minute.

• Mouth Covering:
Covering your mouth during a confrontation is an automatic red card.

• Walk-Off Protest:
Leaving the field to protest a referee's decision results in an immediate red card.

• Expanded VAR:
Video review can now correct mistaken identity, wrong corners, and incorrect second yellow cards.

• Pre-Restart VAR Checks:
VAR can now review attacking fouls that happen before a set piece is kicked. If a foul occurs, the kick is retaken.