The International Football Association Board has approved a new VAR protocol for the 2026 FIFA World Cup that allows officials to review fouls committed by attacking teams immediately before a corner kick or free kick is taken. IFAB announced the change ahead of the tournament, with FIFA’s chief refereeing officer Pierluigi Collina citing England’s goal against Uruguay in a March friendly as an example the new rule would have caught.
Under the protocol, VAR can recommend an on-field review if a clear attacking foul before the ball is in play has a direct impact on a goal, penalty kick, or disciplinary sanction. If the referee confirms an offence occurred, the set-piece restarts and the appropriate disciplinary action follows.
Collina pointed to Ben White’s goal in England’s 1-1 draw with Uruguay, arguing that Adam Wharton’s block on Jose Maria Gimenez before the corner was taken made the goal unjust. “We are convinced that this goal cannot stand, it is completely unfair,” Collina said.
He defended the principle of intervening before the ball is in play. “If a foul is committed just before the ball is in play, we are convinced that nobody can object to something.” Critics of VAR would disagree on precisely that point. Opponents of the technology have consistently argued that expanding its scope produces more stoppages and introduces more subjective judgement into decisions that were previously left to the referee in real time.
The new set-piece protocol forms part of a broader expansion of VAR’s remit at the World Cup. Officials will also review red cards resulting from wrongful second bookings or mistaken identity involving a second yellow card, and can intervene if a corner is incorrectly awarded instead of a goal-kick.
Collina also addressed the growing problem of teams using player injuries to halt play and hold tactical discussions. IFAB discussed possible sanctions in March but reached no agreement. Collina confirmed referees will have no formal sanctions available at the World Cup. “I’m afraid we didn’t get a shared solution, a solution agreed by everybody. For this season, IFAB didn’t take any decision. Certainly something will be done in the future. For the time being, we rely on players’ understanding of the problem.”
Referees will instead act preventively, stopping players from leaving the field during treatment breaks. “We will not allow the teams going to the benches when a goalkeeper is lying on the ground injured,” Collina said. Collina told all 48 head coaches at a pre-tournament workshop that referees would be watching for deliberate time-wasting through injury stoppages.
