Football: VAR at 2026 FIFA World Cup
By Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw
It has been reported that FIFA is expected to be given a special dispensation to allow VAR to be used at next year’s Men’s World Cup relating to corner-kick decisions and the issuing of second yellow cards to confirm that a sending-off is correct.
The organisers of this tournament would be allowed to use these extra powers on a trial basis. In past tournaments, such dispensations have been allowed, for example, in the Confederations Cup and Club World Cup in 2017.
In the World Cup, FIFA argues that the stakes are so high, and so they need to be as accurate as possible regarding potential match-changing decisions. It would, therefore, be a serious issue if, for example, a mistakenly awarded corner or second yellow card altered the outcome of the final.
But are the stakes not high in all football matches?
Prof Dr Ian Blackshaw may be contacted by e-mail at ‘
