FIFA to Introduce VAR Checks on Corner Kicks for 2026 World Cup

FIFA is preparing to introduce a major technological reform at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, with plans underway to expand Video Assistant Referee (VAR) reviews to include corner-kick decisions for the first time in the tournament’s history.

According to officials familiar with ongoing discussions between FIFA and the International Football Association Board (IFAB), the world football governing body is pushing for authorisation to allow VAR teams to carry out quick, factual checks on all corner-kick calls. The proposal, which is still awaiting final approval, is expected to be tabled at IFAB’s next governance meeting If approved, VAR would be permitted to verify whether the ball fully crossed the goal line, confirm the last player to make contact before the ball went out of play, and correct any incorrect awarding of corners. The aim, insiders say, is to eliminate preventable errors in high-stakes World Cup matches where a wrongly awarded corner can lead directly to goals. FIFA believes the technology already used for goal-line decisions and ball-tracking can allow these checks to be completed within seconds, without disrupting the flow of the game. The governing body is lobbying IFAB to grant a special dispensation that would allow the new protocol to be trialled exclusively at the 2026 World Cup before wider adoption in domestic leagues. However, not everyone within global football governance is fully aligned. Some national associations and league officials have warned that expanding VAR’s duties could slow down games and increase stoppages, arguing that corner-kick decisions have traditionally been left to the referee’s discretion. There are also practical challenges, including ensuring uniform camera angles across all 104 matches of the expanded 48-team World Cup. The proposed change forms part of a broader package of reforms under review, including potential VAR checks for second-yellow-card offences and new measures to reduce time-wasting during injury assessments If IFAB gives approval in the coming weeks, the 2026 World Cup — hosted across the United States, Mexico and Canada — could become the first major international tournament to use expanded VAR protocols. The move would represent another significant step in FIFA’s push to modernise officiating and reduce human error in global football.