Goalkeepers must release the ball within eight seconds at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with referees counting down the last five seconds. Teams may face a corner kick if they take too long. Football authorities hope this will reduce time-wasting and increase active play.

New rules will give referees more power to punish players for delaying the game. Only team captains will usually be able to speak to referees. Some referees may wear body cameras to improve the use of technology during matches.

The tournament will have 48 teams and 104 matches, making it the biggest World Cup so far. Officials will watch carefully to see if the new rules improve the game.