The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has introduced major rule changes ahead of the 2026 World Cup across the United States, Mexico and Canada. Former Premier League referee Andy Davies outlined the updates that will also impact leagues worldwide next season. The Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system now covers incorrectly awarded corner kicks, attacking fouls before kickoff, mistaken identity cards, and clear second-yellow errors.

Players who cover their mouths during confrontations with opponents will receive red cards under the new regulations. This targets situations where players might hide potentially racist comments, following the Gianluca Prestianni-Vinicius Junior incident in the Champions League. Friendly conversations remain permitted, but any hint of confrontation triggers the disciplinary action.

Substitution timing gets stricter with a 10-second rule requiring players to exit at the nearest point. Failure to comply forces their replacement to wait at least one minute, leaving teams short-handed. The 5-second restart countdown penalizes deliberate delays on throw-ins and goal kicks, with possession reversed if time expires.

Injury protocols now mandate outfield players leave the pitch for one minute after treatment, though Davies criticizes this as excessive compared to the Premier League's successful 30-second approach. Goalkeeper tactical timeouts are eliminated, and hydration breaks will occur in each half for extreme temperatures. Players protesting decisions face automatic red cards, protecting the game from abandonment scenarios like the AFCON final.