2026 World Cup: A change announced regarding refereeing

With the Club World Cup having wrapped up last Sunday, FIFA is drawing its conclusions. And that will lead to changes at the 2026 World Cup, with refereeing in the spotlight.

Several new rules could come into force before the 2026 World Cup and change the face of football in the coming months. The IFAB, the body responsible for drafting the laws of the game, could be involved in this football revolution by proposing new refereeing reforms in the months ahead, all in preparation for the 2026 World Cup.

According to The Times, the main innovation would concern penalty kicks. If a player fails to convert a penalty, play could stop immediately—just like in a penalty shootout. The aim is likely to make the situation fairer for goalkeepers, who are currently at a disadvantage under existing rules.

Next up, the use of video assistant refereeing could see two major changes. Currently, VAR can only intervene in the case of a direct red card, but it may soon be able to call the referee for an unjustified second yellow card. It could also correct a referee who wrongly awards a corner kick.

Joshua SOSSOU

Editorfr, en, ar

As a sports fan, and particularly a football fan, I've been putting my writing talent to good use for a number of years now to promote African talent and the continent's football in general. On Foot Africa, enjoy reading each of my lines.