Collina says new officiating rules have sped up World Cup play

FIFA's head referee Pierluigi Collina highlighted that the new officiating regulations have made matches more fluid at the 2026 World Cup. With 48 nations competing, measures such as a ten‑second substitution window and extended ball‑in‑play time were introduced to curb delays.

Collina reported that only one player breached the ten‑second rule across 72 group‑stage games, indicating broad compliance. The innovations are being praised for enhancing the spectator experience and overall tempo of the tournament.