​​2025-2026 IFAB Law Changes Link.

Below is a summary.  Follow the link above for details.

Law 3 – The Players
Competitions have the option of implementing the ‘Only the captain’ guidelines

 Law 5 – The Referee
Signal to be used by referees to count down the last five seconds of the eight-second restriction on goalkeepers controlling the ball with their hand(s)/arm(s)

Law 8 – The Start and Restart of Play – Dropped ball
If, when play was stopped, the ball was:
inside the penalty area – the ball is dropped for the defending team goalkeeper in their penalty area
outside the penalty area – the ball is dropped for a player of the team that has or would have gained possession if this is clear to the referee; otherwise, it is dropped for a player of the team that last touched it. The ball is dropped at its position when play was stopped

Law 9 – The Ball in and out of Play
Indirect free kick and no disciplinary sanction when a team official, substitute, substituted or sent-off player or player who is temporarily off the field of play touches the ball as it is leaving the field of play and there is no intention to interfere unfairly

Law 11 – Offside
When the goalkeeper throws the ball, the last point of contact should be used for the purpose of determining an offside position

Law 12 – Fouls and Misconduct
A goalkeeper who controls the ball with their hand(s)/arm(s) for more than eight seconds will be penalized, with a corner kick being awarded to the other team

Law 16 – The Goal Kick
Reference to other Laws detailing situations which result in a goal kick

Law 17 – The Corner Kick
Reference to other Laws detailing situations which result in a corner kick
Kick to be taken from the corner area nearest to the goalkeeper’s position when penalized

Video assistant referee (VAR) protocol
Competitions have the option for the referee to make an announcement after a VAR ‘review’ or lengthy VAR ‘check’