FIFA Adds Countdown Clocks to 2026 World Cup
FIFA will introduce countdown clocks for throw-ins and goal kicks at the 2026 World Cup, visible in stadiums and on broadcast graphics to curb time-wasting. The organization is also proposing that injured players treated on the field must remain off for at least one minute before re-entering play. Both rules aim to increase the pace of play and discourage tactical time-wasting during matches.
- The International Football Association Board (IFAB) is expected to approve a five-second countdown for players taking throw-ins and goal kicks. Failure to put the ball in play within this time would result in a loss of possession for a throw-in or a corner kick for the opposition for a goal kick. - The one-minute off-field waiting period for injured players has exceptions; it will not apply to goalkeepers, players who were fouled by an opponent who then received a yellow or red card, or a player who is about to take a penalty kick. - This initiative to increase playing time follows efforts at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, where referees were instructed to more accurately calculate stoppage time, leading to an average actual playing time of nearly 59 minutes. - Other measures being considered to speed up the game include a 10-second time limit for substitutions. If a player does not leave the field within that time, their replacement will not be allowed to enter until the next stoppage in play. - These rule changes are part of a larger effort championed by FIFA's referees' chief, Pierluigi Collina, to combat time-wasting, after data showed some leagues had an effective playing time as low as 43 minutes for a single match. - The 2026 World Cup, co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, will be the first to feature an expanded format of 48 teams, an increase from the previous 32. - FIFA has previously trialed different time-off requirements for injured players, including a two-minute period at the Arab Cup, but the one-minute proposal is seen as a compromise. - Competitions like the Premier League and Major League Soccer have already implemented their own rules regarding injured players, with the Premier League requiring a 30-second-off-field period and the MLS rule being triggered if a player is on the ground for more than 15 seconds.
