The 2026 World Cup is preparing to launch a series of significant organizational changes during the 140th session of the General Assembly of the International Football Association Board held this week, just a few months before the tournament, which will be jointly hosted in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with 48 teams participating for the first time in the tournament's history.

The amendments aim to make the game more fluid, fair, and credible, following observations of a decline in actual playing time and an increase in procrastination and deception cases, in addition to fans' dissatisfaction with the interruptions caused by exaggerated attempts at acting, continuous objections, and lengthy player substitutions. The International Football Association Board seeks to transform the 2026 World Cup into a platform for implementing modern football that combats practices that tarnish the image of the game.

In recent years, there has been repeated controversy over refereeing decisions in major tournaments, including errors in handball, offside, and incorrect cards. With the adoption of video technology, disagreements did not disappear but changed in nature. Despite the technology's accuracy in drawing lines, discussions continue about interpreting the advantages of play or offside situations.

The new rules expected to be adopted:

Several significant changes will come into effect starting June 1, to be ready for the 2026 World Cup, most notably: 

Eight-Second Rule: Goalkeepers must execute goal kicks within eight seconds instead of six, and the same rule applies to free kicks and throw-ins, with the time divided into three initial seconds and five seconds under the referee's supervision, with an immediate penalty of granting a corner kick to the opposing team or changing the direction of the throw in case of delay.

Temporary Absences for Injuries: Any player requiring more than eight seconds for treatment will leave the field for 60 seconds, except in cases of injury resulting from a foul warranting a yellow or red card, with goalkeepers excluded from this rule.

Substitution Time Restriction: Teams have only 10 seconds to execute a substitution after the number is announced by the fourth official, otherwise, the team will be forced to play with ten players until the next stoppage of play.

Expanding Video Technology Powers: The technology can review incorrectly awarded corner kicks that lead to goals and correct unfair second yellow cards, without reconsidering every first offense.

Offside: The discussion continues on the proposal not to penalize any overrun unless the player's entire body is beyond the defender.

These amendments indicate that football is entering a more stringent, faster, and perhaps more exciting phase, and are expected to bring about a significant and lasting transformation in the way the game is played during the 2026 World Cup.