Field Level Media
24 Feb 2026, 01:10 GMT+10
(Photo credit: Yukihito Taguchi-Imagn Images)
Officials hope to hasten the tempo of FIFA World Cup matches this summer by introducing five-second countdowns for throw-ins and goal kicks, the Press Association reported Monday.
Referees would have discretion to whistle, signal and start the count when they judge that a player is purposely delaying the restart.
If the dawdling persists, the opponent would take possession from a throw-in or corner kick.
The change is up for approval Saturday at the International Football Association Board's annual general meeting in Wales. FIFA could adopt the rule before it is formally enshrined in the laws of the game during World Cup knockout play on July 1.
Another time-saving measure reportedly being considered by IFAB is a 10-second limit to complete substitutions. Offending teams would have to play down one player for at least a minute due to the substitution not initially being permitted.
IFAB's motivation is to reduce wasted time and shorten stoppage time at the end of halves.
The proposed changes are in line with an eight-second rule implemented this season that forces goalkeepers to release the ball within that time or concede a corner.
The 48-team World Cup, the largest in tournament history, runs from June 11 to July 19 in 16 cities across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
--Field Level Media
Get a daily dose of Calgary Monitor news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Calgary Monitor.
More InformationBRUSSELS, Belgium: Europe is increasingly looking to Chinese and Indian travellers to sustain tourism growth, as signs emerge of a...
(Photo credit: Yukihito Taguchi-Imagn Images) Officials hope to hasten the tempo of FIFA World Cup matches this summer by introducing...
Gandhinagar (Gujarat) [India], February 23 (ANI): Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel released the Gujarati biography 'Vishwaguru...
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], February 23 (ANI): Shimla Police have solved a blind murder case within days by arresting two Nepali...
(Photo credit: Omar Ornelas/El Paso Times / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images) While at least one Liga MX soccer match has been...
(Photo credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images) The United States men's hockey team was invited to the State of the Union address and to...
TORONTO, Canada: OpenAI said it had considered alerting Canadian police last year about a user account later linked to one of the deadliest...
LONDON, U.K.: Nestle is moving to divest its remaining ice cream businesses as new CEO Philipp Navratil presses ahead with efforts...
WASHINGTON DC — In a landmark 6-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday struck down President Donald Trump's sweeping global tariffs,...
HAVANA, Cuba: The situation outside gas stations is worsening, as drivers may have to wait for months to refuel their cars due to fuel...
(Photo credit: Yukihito Taguchi-Imagn Images) Officials hope to hasten the tempo of FIFA World Cup matches this summer by introducing...
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh) [India], February 23 (ANI): Shimla Police have solved a blind murder case within days by arresting two Nepali...
