Football's video assistant referee (VAR) system could be granted significant new powers for the 2026 World Cup, with officials exploring the use of technology to adjudicate corner kick decisions for the first time.
A Potential Game-Changer for Major Tournaments
The International Football Association Board (Ifab), the sport's global rule-making body, is considering a major shift in policy. They are looking into allowing short-term trials of new rules specifically for major tournaments like the World Cup.
This would provide an alternative to the current, slower system where innovations must first be tested in minor leagues before being introduced at the highest level. If approved at Ifab's annual general meeting in March, this change could pave the way for a bespoke VAR rulebook for next summer's global showpiece.
How VAR for Corners Would Work
The proposed extension would see VAR officials review whether the ball had fully crossed the byline for a corner and, crucially, which team's player had touched it last. This aims to eliminate errors in awarding a set-piece that could directly lead to a goal and unfairly influence the result of a crucial match.
The idea received a mixed response from a technical panel last month, but significant voices within Fifa are reportedly keen. Some see it as a necessary "insurance rule," particularly for high-stakes games like the World Cup final, to avoid potential embarrassment from a decisive, incorrect call.
Balancing Accuracy with Game Flow
A primary concern surrounding the proposal is the risk of adding further delays to matches. Stoppage time already regularly reached double digits during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, and additional VAR checks could exacerbate this issue.
However, advocates argue the benefit of a safety net outweighs the cost. The topic is of keen interest in the Premier League, where managers like Nottingham Forest's Sean Dyche have publicly bemoaned the lack of reviews after his team suffered from wrongly-awarded corners.
It is important to note that any trial would be exclusive to the tournament and would not rewrite VAR protocols across the board for other competitions like the Champions League or domestic leagues.
Other Radical Rules Discussed
While the corner review proposal has gained traction, other potential rule changes have been debated but seem less likely to proceed. These include extending VAR reviews to second yellow card incidents and a more radical idea to declare the ball "dead" immediately after a goalkeeper saves a penalty kick, preventing follow-up attempts.
The final decision on allowing short-term trials rests with Ifab when they convene for their key meeting next spring, setting the stage for a potentially historic evolution in how football is officiated on its biggest stage.
