World Cup 2026 Rules — What Has Changed?

Initially introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic as a player welfare measure, the 5-substitution rule has been made permanent by FIFA.

In 2026, each team can make up to 5 substitutions in maximum 3 opportunities(plus half-time). In case of extra time, a sixth substitution is allowed.

The semi-automated offside system, successfully debuted at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, will be utilized and improved.

This system uses special cameras tracking 29 skeletal points of each player. An inertial sensor inside the official ball sends positional data 500 times per second. The result is millimetric accuracy.

The main benefit is speed: offside calls that used to take minutes are now resolved in 20-30 seconds.

One of the most discussed proposals is the "blue card" — an intermediate penalty between yellow and red cards. A player receiving a blue card would be excluded from play for 10 minutes. This proposal has not been officially confirmed yet and remains in testing phases.

To tackle time-wasting, FIFA has discussed stopping the match clock whenever play is interrupted (corners, fouls, substitutions).

Squad lists for the 2026 World Cup have been expanded to 26 players.

With the champion needing to play 8 matches (one more than before due to the Round of 32), squad depth will be more decisive than ever.

The official match ball features an inertial sensor chip inside. This sensor feeds real-time data, helping confirm if a ball has fully crossed the goal line in doubtful scenarios.

With matches played during the North American summer, FIFA will implement mandatory hydration breakswhen temperatures exceed 32°C. Pauses occur around the 30th minute of each half.