FIFA introduces five-second restart rule at World Cup after Canada incident

Yahoo Sports1 min read • Latest: Jun 12, 2026, 10:05 PM

Last updated Jun 12, 2026

FIFA introduces five-second restart rule at World Cup after Canada incident
Summary

FIFA has implemented a new five-second restart rule during the World Cup to reduce time-wasting. This rule was first enforced during Canada’s match against Bosnia and Herzegovina, which ended in a 1-1 draw. Sead Kolasinac of Bosnia delayed a throw-in, prompting the referee to award Canada possession. The rule aims to enhance match flow by penalizing slow restarts, with goal kicks resulting in penalties for defending teams that fail to act within the time limit. The change reflects FIFA's ongoing efforts to streamline gameplay and maintain match rhythm.

Source Links
Status Watch
  • Canada faces Bosnia and Herzegovina in a World Cup match that ends 1-1.
  • FIFA's five-second restart rule aims to cut down time-wasting.
  • Referee awarded Canada possession after a delayed throw-in by Bosnia.
  • Goal kicks will lead to a corner for the opposition if not restarted in time.
  • Substitutions are also timed under the new regulations.
Latest Updates
  • 10:05 PMYahoo SportsWorld Cup five-second restart rule explained as Canada awarded tournament’s first reverse throw-in
What they're saying
"

FIFA and IFAB have introduced several rule changes at this World Cup, all aimed at speeding up play and maintaining match rhythm. The main focus is cutting down time-wasting.

Related Teams & Leagues

Sources

External links

Original reporting and copyright belong to the linked sources. SportsNewsReport.com aggregates and links — it does not republish full articles.

Related Stories

Last 14 days