By going from 32 to 48 teams in the group stage, the World Cup regulations introduced the round of 16 and a clever calculation of the “best thirds”, while integrating several new refereeing features.
Eight matches to be champion
Where since 1998 a world crown had been achieved through a sequence of 7 matches – 3 group matches then a round of 16, quarter, semi-final and final – the direct elimination phase now includes one more stage, that of the 16th finals.
To reduce the 48 selections entered to 32 in this final phase, it is not only necessary to qualify the first 2 of each of the 12 groups – as before with 8 groups -, but also 8 of the best 3rds.
The first of the 8 groups (A, B – that of Switzerland -, D, E, F, G, I and L) will cross these 8 best thirds, according to a table including… 495 combinations, defined by FIFA in an annex to its regulations.
If Switzerland came out at the top of group B, in order of probability, it could meet the 3rd in group G (Belgium, Egypt, Iran and New Zealand), that of group F, I, H and finally E, the mathematically least likely scenario.
Yellow cards canceled twice
As a result of this extended competition, yellow cards which did not result in suspension are now canceled twice: at the end of the quarter-finals, as before, but also after the group phase, therefore limiting the management of players warned to three consecutive matches.
New red cards
![Any player covering his mouth during a verbal altercation with an opponent will be punished with a red card. [IMAGO/Photo News - IMAGO/Nico Vereecken]](https://img.rts.ch/articles/2026/image/rsjrrk-29269065.image?mw=1280 "Any player covering his mouth during a verbal altercation with an opponent will be punished with a red card. [IMAGO/Photo News - IMAGO/Nico Vereecken]")
Reacting at the end of April to two recent controversies, FIFA announced two changes to football laws from the World Cup onwards: any player covering his mouth during a verbal altercation with an opponent will be punished with a red card, the same sanction awaiting players leaving the field to protest against an arbitration decision.
On the first point, the body responds to the accusation of the Argentine winger from Benfica Gianluca Prestianniaccused of racist insults targeting the Brazilian Vinicius Jr during a Champions League match, and finally sanctioned for homophobic insult.
The second rule follows the imbroglio around the final of the African Cup of Nations: the Sénégalwho won the match after extra time, was finally stripped of the continental title for having left the pitch in added time to protest against a penalty awarded to Morocco.
Speed up the game
To discourage teams from gaining time, replaced players will have ten seconds to leave the field, otherwise their replacement will have to wait until the first stoppage in play occurring one minute after the change to enter the field.
![Several new rules are being introduced during the 2026 World Cup. [KEYSTONE - NEIL HALL]](https://img.rts.ch/articles/2026/image/13m40q-29263581.image?w=960&h=540)
In addition, a new five-second countdown has been created to perform a touch or clearance at six meters. In the event of an infringement, the throw-in will be reversed, and the six-meter mark will turn into a corner for the opposing team, Pierluigi Collina, head of refereeing at FIFA, detailed last week.
VAR élargie
Finally, the scope of video refereeing is expanded: VAR has until now made it possible to review the action leading to a direct red card, and it will now be possible to reassess a second warning leading to an exclusion. A review may also take place if a corner is wrongly awarded, provided that this intervention does not slow down the resumption of play.
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