FIFA plans VAR checks on corner kicks for 2026 World Cup

FIFA is set to try VAR reviews for corner kicks at the 2026 World Cup, despite domestic leagues rejecting the proposal for regular competition.

As reported by BBC Sports on Tuesday, at an October meeting of the International Football Association Board (IFAB), the body agreed to expand VAR to cover incorrectly issued second yellow cards that result in red cards.

However, the idea of reviewing corner kicks was rejected, meaning FIFA will need to run a separate trial at the tournament in the United States, Mexico, and Canada next summer.

The proposals will be revisited at IFAB’s January meeting, but FIFA has a history of trialing innovations in its competitions, including semi-automated offside technology and public VAR announcements.

The same framework could be applied to corner kicks.

FIFA’s head of referees, Pierluigi Collina, supports the change as part of a wider review of VAR protocols.

He believes that any clear, quickly verifiable error should be subject to review.

Collina highlighted a notable example from the Euro 2016 final, when Portugal were wrongly awarded a free-kick in extra time for handball near the penalty area, nearly resulting in a goal.

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