Players at the 2026 FIFA World Cup will no longer be permitted to step off the field to receive tactical instructions from coaches while a goalkeeper is receiving medical attention.

The decision was announced by FIFA’s referees’ chief, Pierluigi Collina, who said the new rule is designed to stop teams from using goalkeeper injury stoppages as unofficial tactical timeouts.

The practice, often referred to as “goalkeeper tactical timeouts,” has grown in recent years, with teams gathering near the technical area during stoppages to receive instructions and disrupt opposition momentum.

Under the new directive, referees will ensure that players remain on the pitch during such interruptions and will not allow teams to regroup near the sidelines while treatment is ongoing.

Collina said the decision had already been communicated to all 48 participating teams ahead of the tournament.

“We had a workshop with all the coaches of all the 48 teams, and we told them that referees will be proactive,” he explained.

“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,” he added.

The issue has sparked debate in recent seasons, with some managers accusing opponents of deliberately using goalkeeper injuries to slow down matches or reorganize tactically.

FIFA’s new approach aims to address that concern, although it does not fully eliminate stoppage-related disruptions, as hydration breaks will still allow coaching input during games.

Collina also acknowledged that enforcement will rely heavily on referees managing situations on the pitch, though players will not automatically face punishment for approaching the technical area.

“It’s quite weird that there really is only the referee, the physio and the goalkeeper on the field of play,” he said.

In addition to this change, football’s law-making body has approved updates to VAR procedures, allowing reviews of certain attacking fouls committed before the ball is in play ahead of the 2026 tournament.