FIFA is set to trial Video Assistant Referee (VAR) reviews for corner kicks during the 2026 World Cup, even though domestic leagues have rejected the proposal for regular use in their competitions.
According to BBC Sports, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) discussed the proposal in an October meeting.
While IFAB approved expanding VAR to cover instances where a second yellow card leads to a red card, it rejected the idea of reviewing corner kicks in regular play.
As a result, FIFA will conduct a separate trial of the system during 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 track record of testing new technologies in its competitions.
Previous innovations trialed include semi-automated offside detection and public VAR announcements, which aim to enhance fairness and transparency on the field.
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FIFA’s head of referees, Pierluigi Collina, supports the corner-kick trial, emphasizing that any “clear, quickly verifiable error” should be subject to review.
Collina cited a controversial moment from the Euro 2016 final, when Portugal were mistakenly awarded a free-kick for handball near the penalty area in extra time, almost leading to a decisive goal.
If successful, the trial could pave the way for broader adoption of VAR reviews in situations beyond goals, penalties, and red cards, potentially reshaping match officiating standards in international football.