FIFA to introduce VAR for corner kicks at 2026 World Cup despite domestic league pushback

FIFA plans to introduce Video Assistant Referee (VAR) reviews for corner-kick decisions at the 2026 World Cup, even though domestic leagues have rejected the idea for regular competition, Sport360NG reports.

At an October meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB), which governs the laws of the game, there was agreement to expand VAR to cover incorrectly issued second yellow cards leading to a red. However, FIFA’s proposal to review corner decisions was rejected, meaning the governing body will need to run a separate trial for the tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada next summer.

Further discussion on these measures is expected at IFAB’s next meeting in January, but FIFA has historically applied trial protocols to its competitions. Previous examples include semi-automated offside technology and referees publicly announcing VAR decisions, approaches that could similarly be applied to corner-kick reviews.

FIFA’s head of referees, Pierluigi Collina, supports the change as part of a broader review of VAR protocol. Collina has suggested that any error identifiable by VAR should potentially be communicated, citing a Euro 2016 final incident when Portugal were wrongly awarded a free-kick that nearly led to a goal.

Domestic Leagues Raise Concerns Over Delays

Several league managers, including Nottingham Forest’s Sean Dyche, have expressed frustration over goals conceded from corners that were incorrectly awarded. Nonetheless, without IFAB approval, domestic leagues are unlikely to see corner reviews implemented.

Domestic competitions are already under pressure to limit VAR-related delays. Football Association chief executive Mark Bullingham, who sits on the IFAB board, has previously voiced opposition to expanding VAR in this way.

The review of second yellow cards is expected to be adopted next season, as these incidents are relatively rare compared to the roughly 10 corners per match in the Premier League. Resource limitations further complicate adoption at lower-tier leagues, whereas FIFA can deploy multiple VAR officials for its events. At the 2022 World Cup, five officials monitored group-stage matches, compared with two in most domestic games. FIFA also benefits from additional VAR roles, enhanced camera coverage, and connected ball technology, which allows officials to instantly determine touch in close situations, capabilities beyond the reach of domestic competitions.

Adding corners to VAR protocol would require all leagues with VAR, from the Premier League to the Scottish Premiership, Dutch Eredivisie, and second divisions in Germany, France, Italy, and Spain, to implement reviews, creating significant delays and operational challenges.

How Corner Reviews Will Work at the World Cup

Under current Laws of the Game, referees cannot change a restart decision once play resumes. Therefore, every corner will need to be reviewed by VAR, although most decisions are expected to be straightforward.

This represents a departure from existing VAR rules, which only cover goals, penalties, red cards, and cases of mistaken identity. For the 2026 World Cup, FIFA will add corner-kick decisions to that list, with officials confident that its technology and resources will allow for quick and accurate reviews.

Officials have also considered limiting reviews to corners that directly lead to goals, but this could create loopholes. Teams could exploit incorrect restarts to take short corners and still score, circumventing VAR oversight.

FIFA’s trial at the World Cup will test whether corner-kick reviews can be implemented effectively in high-level football, potentially shaping the future of VAR worldwide.