FIFA is considering new rules ahead of the World Cup.

FIFA is considering a series of significant changes to the rules of the game and technology ahead of the World Cup.

The IFAB – the governing body of world football, with the authority to issue, amend, and interpret the Laws of the Game – is likely to greenlight the use of "connected ball" technology to accurately determine which team is awarded a corner kick. A chip integrated into the ball can automatically identify the last player to touch the ball before it goes out of bounds, thereby instantly sending a signal to the VAR team and the main referee.

This technology was previously implemented by FIFA at the 2022 World Cup to assist in crucial offside situations. If applied to corner kicks, the IFAB believes that no changes to the Laws of the Game or the current VAR procedures would be necessary, as the use of algorithms to assist in decision-making is already permitted.

In addition, the IFAB also discussed drastic measures to combat time-wasting. Notable proposals included countdown timers for throw-ins and goal kicks, requiring the ball to be returned to play within 5 seconds.

Rules limiting substitution time were also introduced, stipulating that a player leaving the field has a maximum of 10 seconds to complete the substitution.

Another option is to require players who are sent off for treatment due to injury to stand on the sidelines for two minutes, unless they are the victim of a foul resulting in a yellow or red card. This rule was previously tested at the Arab Cup and was considered to help reduce the misuse of injuries to waste time.

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The World Cup is the biggest event of 2026.

The upcoming IFAB meeting will lay the groundwork for the annual congress, where the changes, if approved, will officially take effect. FIFA President Gianni Infantino is a strong supporter of speeding up the pace of the game, following the implementation of the rule limiting goalkeepers to a maximum of eight seconds on the ball, which proved remarkably effective.

Meanwhile, FIFA's head of refereeing, Pierluigi Collina, has been particularly pushing for the use of technology to reduce incorrect corner kick decisions. Despite concerns about VAR potentially prolonging matches, FIFA believes that automatic signals from the ball's chip will not add to the time wasted.

Regarding the offside rule, the IFAB has not yet approved any major changes immediately. The parties have agreed to continue testing Arsène Wenger's proposal, in which the "body offside" option is considered more balanced than the complete "daylight" concept.

If approved, these adjustments could bring about significant changes in the way matches are conducted and the pace of the upcoming World Cup.