VAR
Video Assistant Referee; football's review technology, subject of 2026 IFAB rule changes including second-yellow card reviews.
Last refreshed: 5 June 2026
Will second-yellow VAR reviews at the 2026 World Cup reduce dismissals or create new flashpoints?
Timeline for VAR
IFAB rule changes go live at World Cup
2026 FIFA World CupFIFA drops cleared Dutch VAR official
2026 FIFA World Cup- What VAR rule changes are happening at the 2026 World Cup?
- IFAB's 2026 changes extend VAR to second-yellow card reviews for the first time, allowing review before dismissal. VAR can also assist in identifying the new offence of covering the mouth during a confrontation.Source:
- How does VAR work at a World Cup?
- A VAR team reviews footage and communicates with the on-field referee via headset. The referee can conduct an on-field review at a pitchside monitor. Reviewable incidents now include goals, penalties, red cards, and — from 2026 — second yellow cards.
- Can VAR review a second yellow card at the 2026 World Cup?
- Yes. IFAB introduced this rule change for 2026, allowing VAR to review a second booking before the referee dismisses the player — extending VAR beyond red-card offences for the first time.Source:
Background
VAR (Video Assistant Referee) is a system of video review technology used in association football to assist the on-field referee with match-changing decisions. A VAR team reviews footage and communicates with the referee via headset, with the referee able to conduct an on-field review (OFR) at a pitchside monitor. VAR was introduced at the 2018 FIFA World Cup and has since become standard in top professional competitions worldwide.
For the 2026 FIFA World Cup, IFAB introduced a significant expansion of VAR's scope: second yellow cards can now be reviewed before a player is dismissed, a change that extends VAR beyond red-card offences for the first time. The same update also established that a red card applies to players covering their mouth during confrontations — a new offence VAR can assist in identifying.
The second-yellow VAR review is the more consequential change. It could alter late-game dynamics where a cautioned player might previously have been sent off on a marginal second booking. Critics argue it adds delay and complexity; supporters say it prevents career-altering injustices.