Rabat – FIFA President Gianni Infantino has confirmed that a major change to the offside rule is under serious review ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
Originally suggested by Arsene Wenger, the proposal would redefine offside in a way that favors attackers. Under current regulations, even a toe or shoulder beyond the line can trigger an offside call. By contrast, the new rule stipulates that a player would only be offside if their entire body is ahead of the last defender.
This change could have a big impact on how football is played. It would give attackers more freedom to time their runs and stay closer to the goal without being penalized.
Defenders would need to adjust their positioning and timing, while goalkeepers might face more one-on-one situations. The result could be more goals, faster transitions, and fewer interruptions due to marginal offside decisions.
Infantino spoke at the World Sports Summit in Dubai, where he also mentioned other innovations being tested in 2025 tournaments.
These include a “green card” system allowing teams to request VAR reviews, referee body cameras for transparency, and an eight-second rule for goalkeepers to release the ball faster. All these measures aim to make the game quicker, fairer, and more exciting.
FIFA is collecting data from these trials to decide which changes will be adopted for the 2026 World Cup. If the offside rule is updated, it could mark one of the biggest shifts in football tactics in decades, encouraging more attacking play and reducing controversy over tight offside calls
