The landscape of football officiating is poised for a significant shift as the world's governing body, FIFA, prepares to introduce two major adjustments to the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system. These proposed changes, which could be trialed at the historic 2026 FIFA World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, aim to drastically reduce critical errors during matches.
What Are the Proposed VAR Adjustments?
According to reports from sources including The Times and BBC Sport, FIFA intends to expand the scope of VAR intervention into two areas currently off-limits. The first proposed change would allow VAR officials to review decisions leading to corner kicks. The goal is to ensure that set-pieces, which often lead to goal-scoring opportunities, originate from correct calls.
The second, and potentially more impactful, adjustment involves second yellow card incidents. Under the new proposal, VAR would be permitted to intervene if a player is incorrectly shown a second yellow card, leading to an unfair sending-off. The International Football Association Board (IFAB), the guardian of the game's laws, has already acknowledged this as a controversial gap in the current system.
The Road to Implementation and Testing
A formal proposal on these VAR expansions is scheduled to be presented at IFAB's next annual meeting in January 2026 in London. If the proposals gain approval, the 2026 World Cup is lined up to be the primary testing ground. This makes strategic sense, as the 2026 edition will be the largest World Cup ever, featuring 48 teams and unprecedented global scrutiny where every refereeing decision is magnified.
This initiative is part of a broader push by FIFA to refine match officiating. Another recently introduced rule mandates that any player receiving on-field medical attention must leave the pitch for two minutes, leaving their team a player short temporarily. Pierluigi Collina, head of FIFA's referees committee, stated this aims to curb time-wasting. This rule will first be tested at the 2025 Arab Cup and could later extend to tournaments like the Africa Cup of Nations.
Implications for the Future of Football
The potential introduction of these VAR adjustments marks a potential turning point. By allowing reviews for corner kicks, FIFA seeks to correct a source of perceived injustice that can directly influence match outcomes. More importantly, the power to overturn an erroneous second yellow card addresses a long-standing frustration for players, coaches, and fans alike, protecting teams from being unfairly reduced to ten men.
These steps indicate FIFA's continued commitment to leveraging technology to support on-field officials, aiming for greater accuracy and fairness in the beautiful game. The football world will be watching closely as these discussions progress towards the 2026 global showpiece.
