WORLD CUP 2026 is almost upon us, and Fifa has brought in some drastic rule changes for the tournament.
Sport’s largest spectacle has been expanded to 48 teams, with the tournament being held across the United States, Mexico and Canada.
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IFAB have implemented new rules for the 2026 World Cup Credit: Getty
English referee Anthony Taylor will officiate at the tournament Credit: Getty
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Referees from across the world will officiate the tournament, including Premier League‘s Michael Oliver and Anthony Taylor.
The rules and changes can all become confusing, but JattvibeSport has all the details ahead of the tournament.
How long do players have to take throw-ins and goal kicks?
The rules surrounding goal kicks and throw-ins have been a contentious subject around European football, and Fifa have changed some of the rules to iron out some darker arts in the sport.
At the World Cup, teams will have a limit of just five seconds to take a throw-in or goal kick.
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This will be done through a visible countdown from the referee.
If players take too long, the punishment will be either a throw-in to the other team or a corner kick awarded for slow goal kicks.
This has been approved by the International Football Association Board (IFAB), and set to become a law on July 1, but will be used in the World Cup before that.
A similar rule was implemented at the beginning of the 2025/26 season for goalkeepers holding the ball for more than eight seconds.
FOLLOW all the build-up to next summer’s World Cup right here including England updates, ticket news and Donald Trump’s latest plans.
