Players at the 2026 FIFA World Cup will no longer be allowed to leave the field to receive tactical instructions from coaches while a goalkeeper is receiving medical treatment, FIFA’s head of refereeing, Pierluigi Collina, has announced.
The new directive is designed to eliminate the increasingly common practice known as “goalkeeper tactical timeouts,” where teams use injury stoppages involving goalkeepers as an opportunity to regroup, receive coaching instructions, or disrupt the rhythm of the opposing team.
Under the revised guidelines, referees will ensure that players remain on the pitch whenever a goalkeeper is being treated. Teams will no longer be permitted to gather around their technical areas or benches during such stoppages.
Speaking ahead of the tournament, Collina said FIFA had already briefed coaches from all 48 participating nations about the change and stressed that match officials would actively enforce the rule.
“We had a workshop with all the coaches of all the 48 teams, and we told them that referees will be proactive,” Collina said.
“They will not allow the two teams to go to the benches when a goalkeeper is lying on the ground injured. The goalkeeper has the right to be injured, but the players do not have the right to leave the field of play to have a sort of timeout with their respective coaches.”
The issue has generated debate in football circles in recent years, with several managers accusing opponents of using goalkeeper injury stoppages as a tactical tool.
One notable example came in November when Leeds United manager Daniel Farke alleged that goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma had used an injury break to help his side regroup and interrupt the flow of the game.
While the new measure aims to prevent coaching huddles during injury interruptions, some observers argue it may not completely eliminate deliberate attempts to slow down play or halt an opponent’s momentum.
Collina acknowledged the unusual nature of the current practice, noting that referees often find themselves alone on the field with the injured goalkeeper and medical staff while other players move to the sidelines.
“It’s quite weird that there really is only the referee, the physio and the goalkeeper on the field of play,” he said. “All the other players leave the pitch, and it is not good.”
FIFA believes the change will help maintain the integrity and flow of matches while reducing opportunities for unsanctioned tactical discussions during stoppages.
However, coaches will still have opportunities to communicate with players during matches. The 2026 World Cup is expected to include three-minute hydration breaks in each half, giving managers designated periods to relay instructions.
In a separate development, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) has approved an amendment to Video Assistant Referee (VAR) protocols. The change will allow officials to review certain attacking fouls committed before the ball is put into play, introducing another significant officiating adjustment ahead of football’s biggest tournament.
The 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, will be the first edition of the tournament to feature 48 teams.
