FIFA has announced a set of rule changes ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup aimed at reducing time-wasting and improving the flow of matches. The tournament is scheduled to take place from June 11 to July 19 across North America.
Under the new regulations, players being substituted must leave the pitch within 10 seconds. Failure to do so will delay their replacement’s entry by one minute. Throw-ins and goal kicks must also be taken within five seconds, with possession awarded to the opposing team if the restart is delayed.
Players who receive medical treatment on the field will be required to leave immediately and can only return after one minute of resumed play. The Video Assistant Referee system will also be expanded, allowing reviews of second yellow-card incidents and clear errors in corner-kick decisions.
The 2026 tournament will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico across 16 cities.
Ghana will play in its fifth World Cup, facing Panama, England, and Croatia in Group L.
