Football’s lawmakers are weighing a significant change that could allow VAR to take on expanded responsibilities at the 2026 World Cup, including the ability to rule on corner kick decisions for the first time.
The International Football Association Board (IFAB) is studying a proposal that would permit FIFA to operate its own VAR rulebook specifically for major tournaments. This would open the door to short-term trials of new officiating measures at competitions such as the World Cup, bypassing the current requirement for rule changes to be tested first in minor leagues or lower-profile events.
If approved, next summer’s tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada could feature a new system in which VAR determines whether the ball fully crossed the line before a corner is awarded and which player last touched it. The plan aims to prevent incorrectly awarded set pieces that may lead directly to goals in high-stakes fixtures.
The suggestion to extend VAR’s authority was discussed by IFAB’s technical panel last month, receiving a mixed response. Some football officials believe the new measure would add a much-needed safeguard for decisive moments, with FIFA figures reportedly keen to avoid a scenario in which a wrongly awarded corner affects the outcome of a World Cup final.
Others, however, are wary of the potential impact on game flow. Concerns have been raised that additional VAR checks may further increase delays, especially after the 2022 World Cup in Qatar saw stoppage times frequently reach ten minutes or more.
Any move to allow VAR review of corners is likely to attract close attention from domestic leagues. Nottingham Forest manager Sean Dyche is among those who have publicly lamented the lack of oversight on corner decisions, having seen his team twice punished by goals that followed incorrectly awarded set pieces.
The wider proposal, giving FIFA limited freedom to test new rules during tournaments, will require approval at IFAB’s annual general meeting in March. Should the motion pass, it would mark one of the most significant shifts in VAR policy since the system was introduced.
For now, football’s governing bodies continue to debate whether greater accuracy is worth the risk of further slowing down the sport’s biggest event.
