FIFA Rule Changes 2025: What to Expect in Soccer’s Future

FIFA and the International Football Association Board (IFAB) are considering major rule changes for soccer in 2025. These updates aim to optimize match time, enhance VAR implementation, and improve the overall game experience.

FIFA World Cup Every Two Years: Proposal and Rejection

✅ Confirmed Proposal (But No Implementation)

• The idea of hosting the Men's and Women's FIFA World Cup every two years instead of four was proposed in 2021 by Arsène Wenger (FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development).

• The proposal was backed by the Saudi Arabian Football Federation (SAFF) and had support from 166 national associations, while 22 opposed it.

❌ Why It Was Rejected

• The UEFA (European Football Federation) and CONMEBOL (South American Federation) strongly opposed the plan, fearing that more frequent World Cups would:

  • Overload players with too many matches.

  • Reduce the prestige of the tournament.

  • Conflict with club competitions like the UEFA Champions League and domestic leagues.

• FIFA eventually dropped the proposal in early 2023, confirming that the World Cup will remain every four years.

Video Assistant Referee (VAR) Changes: Evolution, Not Revolution

✅ Confirmed Changes

• Live VAR announcements: Since 2023, FIFA has experimented with referees announcing VAR-reviewed decisions via stadium loudspeakers to improve transparency. This was tested in:

  • Club World Cup 2023

  • Women’s World Cup 2023

  • AFCON 2024

• Semi-Automatic Offside System: FIFA introduced this system at the 2022 Qatar World Cup to speed up offside decisions. It is now expanding to other competitions.

❌ Unconfirmed or Speculative Changes

• Football Video Support (FVS) System:

  • The claim that FIFA will introduce a system where coaches can request video reviews is not officially confirmed.

  • VAR currently operates under FIFA’s authority, where only referees and the VAR team can trigger a review.

  • If a coach-requested review system were implemented, it would require significant rule changes, which FIFA and IFAB have not yet announced.

Rule Changes on Match Time & Player Behavior

✅ Confirmed Adjustments

• Crackdown on time-wasting: FIFA has instructed referees to add longer stoppage times to reduce excessive time-wasting, as seen in:

  • 2022 FIFA World Cup (Some matches had 10+ minutes of extra time).

  • English Premier League 2023-24 season (Referees now enforce strict added time for delays).

❌ Not Yet Approved

• 8-Second Goalkeeper Rule:

  • The claim that FIFA is officially setting an 8-second limit for goalkeepers is not confirmed.

  • However, IFAB has discussed the issue of goalkeepers wasting time and may introduce stricter rules in the future.

• Captain’s Zone Initiative:

  • Some competitions have experimented with a rule where only the team captain can approach the referee to protest decisions.

  • However, FIFA has not yet made this a global rule for all tournaments.

4. Referee-Worn Cameras: Experiment, Not Official

✅ Confirmed Tests

• Referee body cameras have been tested in some lower leagues and friendly matches, giving fans a first-person perspective.

• FIFA and IFAB are studying its potential use for referee training.

❌ Not Yet Approved for Major Tournaments

• There is no official confirmation that referee-worn cameras will be used in World Cups or top leagues anytime soon.

Additionally, FIFA constantly explores new technologies and rule adjustments, but not all proposals become reality. Many of the changes discussed—such as improving VAR transparency and reducing time-wasting—are real trends, while others, like coach-requested VAR reviews (FVS) or an 8-second goalkeeper rule, remain unconfirmed speculations.

Source: Easywin Nigeria