The main objective is to speed up the game and reduce the famous “waxes”
Now it’s official! The IFAB announced the main changes to the Laws of the Game that will come into force from July 1, 2026 — and are already valid for the 2026 World Cup and any competition that adopts them before.
The main objective is to speed up the game and reduce the famous “waxes”. Check out the most important points:
Side throws: the player has 5 seconds to charge (the referee counts visually). If time passes → possession reversed to the opponent.
Goal shot: same 5 second rule. If you are late → corner to the opposing team.
Substitutions: the departing player has 10 seconds (from the board or the referee’s signal) to leave the field. If it takes a while, he leaves anyway, but the substitute only enters the next stop in the game after 1 minute of running time. Result: the team is one less for at least 60 effective seconds.
Medical care in the field: Whoever receives assistance (or causes the game to stop due to injury) will have to leave and will be out for 1 full minute after the restart. Goodbye to injury simulation to save time!
VAR with more powers (but punctual): now you can quickly correct a second yellow card applied by mistake (avoiding unfair expulsion), identity errors on cards and, if you are quick, corners awarded in error.
There are other smaller changes, but these are the highlights that should greatly impact the pace of the matches. The expectation is that football will become more dynamic, fluid and attractive to those watching.
I hope it works!
*This text does not necessarily reflect the opinion of Jovem Pan.
