Players at the 2026 FIFA World Cup will no longer be allowed to leave the field to receive instructions from their coaches when a goalkeeper is being treated for an injury, as FIFA moves to stop the growing use of tactical injury breaks.
FIFA’s head of referees, Pierluigi Collina, said the new measure is designed to prevent teams from using goalkeeper injury stoppages as unofficial timeouts to regroup, receive tactical guidance, or disrupt the momentum of their opponents during matches.
Under the new directive, referees will ensure that outfield players remain on the pitch while a goalkeeper receives treatment. Teams will no longer be permitted to gather around their technical areas or benches during such stoppages.
Collina revealed that FIFA had already informed coaches from all 48 participating nations about the change during a recent workshop. He stressed that while goalkeepers have every right to receive medical attention when injured, other players do not have the right to use those moments for tactical discussions with their coaches.
The issue has attracted attention in recent years, with some managers accusing opponents of exploiting injury breaks for strategic purposes. One notable example came in November when Leeds United manager Daniel Farke suggested that goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma used an injury stoppage to help his team regroup and break the flow of the game.
While the new rule is expected to reduce coaching huddles during injury breaks, questions remain about its overall impact, especially as the 2026 World Cup will include three-minute hydration breaks in each half, giving coaches another opportunity to communicate with players. Meanwhile, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) has also approved an update to VAR rules that will allow reviews of certain attacking fouls committed before the ball comes into play, adding another significant officiating change ahead of the tournament.
Elijah Adeyemi
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