The 2026 World Cup implements four new law changes to combat timewasting and improve officiating accuracy. Referees will use 5-second countdowns for goal-kicks and throw-ins, with deliberate delays punished by awarding corners to opponents. Substituted players must exit within 10 seconds or their team plays with 10 men until play stops. These deterrents replace the previous yellow card-only approach for persistent delays.

VAR expands to validate corners and correct mistaken identity, though it cannot review defensive fouls before the ball is in play. The system can now assess second yellow cards for red card decisions and reverse bookings when the wrong player is penalized. VAR will also review goals directly resulting from pre-play fouls, addressing incidents like the March example involving England's Adam Wharton blocking before Ben White's goal.

New conduct rules target players leaving to protest decisions or displaying confrontational behavior. Covering the mouth during disputes now warrants red cards, following Gianluca Prestianni's six-match ban. The law also penalizes players who refuse to continue after controversial penalty decisions, referencing the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations final controversy. These changes prioritize match integrity over player convenience.

These rules shift officiating from reactive bookings to proactive deterrents. Teams gain clearer pathways to penalize timewasting while maintaining game rhythm.