FIFA to Ban Goalkeeper Tactical Timeouts at 2026 World Cup

FIFA will ban the “goalkeeper tactical timeout” at the 2026 World Cup, and the tournament will also use a revised VAR protocol that can review certain attacking fouls committed before the ball is in play. The changes are aimed at reducing time-wasting and stopping teams from using injury stoppages to gather for touchline instructions.

Under the new approach, if a goalkeeper goes down, players will not be allowed to leave the field to talk to coaches. Pierluigi Collina said referees have been told to be proactive and stop both teams from heading to the benches while the keeper is down, although no yellow cards are planned simply for attempting it.

The VAR change is important because it allows reviews of attacking fouls that have a direct impact on a goal, penalty or disciplinary decision before a set piece is taken. That means a situation like England’s disputed corner goal against Uruguay could now be checked and potentially ruled out or retaken if an attacker illegally blocks a defender before the ball is in play.

Collina also said a new red-card rule will apply when a player covers their mouth during a confrontational exchange, something FIFA views as potentially abusive behavior. He added that referees will be ready to monitor grappling in the penalty area more closely, using pre-match data on team tactics.

These changes are part of a wider effort to shorten stoppages and cut down on gamesmanship at the World Cup. FIFA is also planning to use fixed hydration breaks in each half, so coaches will still have natural moments to give instructions even with the goalkeeper timeout banned.