Domestic football aside, football fans across the globe are waiting patiently for the start of the 2026 World Cup in North America next summer and FIFA, football’s global governing body led by President Gianni Infantino, could be set to trial a major corner-kick rule change after senior figures have pushed for it. The lawmakers are exploring the possibility of VAR being used to adjudicate on corner kicks.
Taking place between June 11 and July 19, a trio of North American countries – the United States, Mexico and Canada – are set to play host to the 23rd edition of the most-watched competition in world football. Lionel Scaloni’s Argentina will be looking to retain their status as the champions of the world.
Elsewhere, the likes of France, Spain, Brazil and England – all of whom have reigned victorious in the past – are among the already-qualified nations who will be keen to knock La Albiceleste off their perch come next summer. Expanded from 32 teams, this instalment of the World Cup will be the first of its kind to allow a total of 48 nations to compete, but that may not be the only major change on the cards.
World Cup 2026 Power Rankings
England, Spain and France feature in the top 10.
FIFA Set to Allow VAR More Power Over Corners at 2026 World Cup
FIFA – spearheaded by Infantino, who is set to give out the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize on Friday at the draw – could be given special dispensation to give VAR additional powers, which would include extra power over corner-kick decisions, according to a report from The Times. The World Cup organisers would be granted permission to use the extra powers on a temporary or trial basis.
Senior figures at FIFA have been pushing for the prospect of VAR being able to intervene if officials believe a corner has been incorrectly awarded to a nation. Alongside the changes to corner kicks, they also want to allow VAR to be able to review second yellow cards to confirm if a sending off has been correctly awarded.
What that means for the Premier League remains unknown, but the report does suggest that England’s top flight could follow in the competition’s footsteps.
FIFA’s argument is based on the notion that the World Cup, undoubtedly one of the best-watched competitions in the sporting world, is required to be as pinpoint as it can be when it comes to its decision-making – and this change would reduce the margin for error. They are worried that a mistakenly awarded corner could alter the outcome of the World Cup final, set to be played at the MetLife Stadium.
The exemption from the rule has been permitted in previous tournaments – FIFA used VAR in its Confederations Cup and Club World Cup in 2017 as a trial before it had been formally approved by the International FA Board (IFAB) – and there is an appetite for a potential change in the rules among FIFA’s boardroom bosses, which includes the aforementioned Infantino.
If taken up, next summer’s World Cup could be a game-changing tournament as it’d be the first time VAR would be used to adjudicate on corners. The technology would be utilised to assess whether a ball had crossed the line entirely or, in the necessary case, which nation had last touched the ball.
IFAB Board Will Need to be ‘Convinced’ by VAR Power Extension
It won’t be long until the domestic football seasons are over and all 48 nations are preparing for the World Cup and, as a result, any law changes would come into play from June 1 – perfectly in time for next summer’s showpiece tournament. For that to be the case, the powers that be at IFAB are required to be ‘convinced’ that any extension of the VAR powers would not lead to an increase in delays and that any new decision would have to be taken by video officials in a matter of seconds, per The Times’ report.
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Only one is currently suspended from the 2026 World Cup.
IFAB is made up of the four British associations, who have one vote each, and FIFA, which has four votes. Any change to the laws of the game needs at least six of the eight votes to be passed. According to The Sun, IFAB are expected to confirm that VAR officials will be able to intervene on second yellow cards next summer – but resistance regarding the corner-kick change is expected.
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