As FIFA's referees complete their final preparations in Miami ahead of the World Cup, Pierluigi Collina outlined the tournament's biggest rule changes.
Few referees have ever achieved the profile of Pierluigi Collina. The 66-year-old Italian, who took charge of the 2002 World Cup final and was voted the world’s best referee a record six consecutive times, now leads FIFA’s officiating department and is responsible for preparing referees for the sport’s biggest stage.
What Has Changed
He is currently in Miami alongside the officials selected for the 2026 World Cup. Here is his assessment of the World Cup and its most significant innovations.
We have around 170 people in Miami, and we began our preparation seminar last Tuesday. It has taken us three years to get to this point.
Our goal is to maintain the standard we’ve seen in recent years or improve upon it. The principles are the same as in 2022, but the game continues to evolve.
As you can understand, I cannot comment on specific matters or situations related to your country. Other countries are in similar situations.
What I can say is that we selected the referees we believe are best prepared for the demands of this tournament.
A player will be shown a red card if he covers his mouth while involved in a confrontation with another player. Players who leave the field without permission, or coaches who encourage them to do so, will also face sanctions.
On goal kicks, if there is a five-second delay after the referee’s warning, the opposing team will be awarded a corner kick. The same principle applies to throw-ins.
During substitutions, a player must leave the field within 10 seconds. Otherwise, his replacement will not be allowed to enter for an additional minute.
An injured player who receives medical treatment must remain off the field for 60 seconds before returning.
There are changes there as well. Second yellow cards that result in a sending-off can now be reviewed by VAR.
Clear mistakes on corner-kick decisions can also be reviewed before the restart.
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How Teams and Officials Will Adapt
It makes no sense for a corner kick to be awarded when everyone can see it isn’t a corner. It happened in a Barcelona-Atlético Champions League match and, before play restarted, every player on the field accepted the correction.
Imagine a team losing a tournament because of a phantom corner kick.
This was a concern raised by IFAB. It is unfair to allow a goal when a player is unable to defend because he was fouled before a restart, even if the ball was not yet in play.
These blocking incidents occur in the penalty area. They are rare, but one happened recently in an England-Uruguay match.
We are convinced goals resulting from those situations should not stand. Nobody can reasonably oppose that.
These reviews will not take long. They will last only as long as it takes players to get into position for the corner kick.
If the evidence is not clear, the original decision will stand.
We understand that some players are friends and talk to one another, and they will still be able to do that while covering their mouths.
The new rule applies when there is a clear confrontation. If everyone understands the [Vinicius] rule, they simply won’t do it.
We want to remove as many interruptions as possible from matches, all those things that clutter the game.
Potential Impact on World Cup 2026 Matches
We’re trying to reduce stoppages. Additional time will start from three minutes because of hydration breaks, which will take place in every match and in every half at the 22nd minute.
At the Arab Cup, we required players requesting medical attention to remain off the field for two minutes. Nobody asked for treatment unless there was a genuine injury.
All 48 coaches agree with these measures. That’s what they have told us in meetings.
The objective is to protect players, keep them healthy, and be strict when necessary to safeguard their welfare.
Every fan wants to see the best players making great plays, not recovering from injuries.
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Rule Change Impact and Tactical Implications
Rule-change stories matter because even small officiating tweaks can change pressing triggers, time management, and how teams defend in transition. Coaches will adjust quickly if new interpretations create extra punishment for delay or dissent.
For supporters, the value is understanding how the tournament may feel different on the pitch. A smart explainer links the rule update to real match scenarios rather than treating it as an isolated FIFA memo.