World Cup VAR changes
FIFA to introduce changes to VAR during the 2026 World Cup
6/4/20261 min read
World Cup VAR Changes
Advanced semi-automated offside for VAR will be used for the first time at the World Cup this summer, meaning assistant referees no longer need to delay raising their flags for offside decisions. The new technology sends a real-time audio alert to the assistant if a player is more than 10 cm offside, compared to 50 cm, which was used at the previous Club World Cup. While the decision to raise the flag is in the assistant’s discretion, Fifa hopes that the technology will remove the need for unnecessary passages of play if a player is clearly offside.
This change is part of a host of new VAR updates being introduced at the World Cup. As reported earlier this year, Fifa will use AI-enabled 3D avatars of all 1,248 players for offside decisions to make calls more accurate. The technology will also be expanded to check for incorrectly awarded corner kicks, red cards issued from a second yellow that is clearly incorrect, or cases of mistaken identity when a referee issues a yellow or red card.
In related news, to tackle time-wasting, a referee can now start a five-second countdown if they feel a player is taking too long on a throw-in or goal kick. In addition, players won’t be able to go to the technical area for managerial advice when a goalkeeper goes down injured. Players will be asked to stay put, though there is no official disciplinary action against rule breakers.