The rule change is intended to result in fewer offside calls. © APA/afp / LUIS ROBAYO

Is the new offside rule coming to football?

FIFA is pushing ahead with a potential revolution of the offside rule. Testing will begin immediately in professional football.

March 31, 2026

From: dpa

A pilot project will begin in the Canadian Premier League on Saturday, FIFA announced. The existing offside rule will be changed in favor of attackers. This change was approved by the rule-making body, the International Football Association Board (IFAB). As part of the CPL trials, a system for coaches to review referee decisions will also be introduced.

Former top coach Arsène Wenger, as head of FIFA's global football development department, has been advocating for a change to the offside rule for six years. The proposed rule stipulates that a player is not offside as long as any part of their body that could potentially score a goal is level with the second-to-last opposing player. A player would only be considered offside if there is a gap between them and the defender. FIFA refers to this as "daylight offside." Currently, a player is offside if any part of their body is closer to the goal than the second-to-last opponent.

Already tested in Italy

According to FIFA, the new offside rule is intended to lead to more goals. "By testing this new interpretation in a professional competition, we can better understand its impact, including greater clarity, a smoother flow of play, and the promotion of attacking football," said Frenchman Wenger regarding the tests in Canada.

Former coaching legend Arsène Wenger is working on a rule change. © APA/GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / DAN MULLAN

FIFA President Gianni Infantino had already expressed openness to a possible change to the offside rule at the end of 2025. "How can we make the game more offensive and attractive?" Infantino asked at the time. Tests had been underway in Italy since April 2022, specifically in the top two U18 leagues.

Coaches are allowed to have decisions reviewed.

In the top all-Canadian league, there are no dedicated video assistant referees (VARs). Instead, coaches are permitted to submit a limited number of requests to have decisions reviewed. This applies to goals, penalties, red cards, and cases of mistaken identity. To do so, the coaches hand a card to the fourth official on the sideline. The disputed decisions are then reviewed on a monitor. FIFA further stated that the system is not intended to replace the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), but rather to provide referees with support for critical decisions.