Stoppage time revolution: Games getting shorter at the 2026 World Cup
FIFA referees chief Pierluigi Collina's anti-time-wasting measures have reduced match lengths, and the ball-in-play percentage is higher than in previous tournaments.
The 2026 World Cup in the United States, Mexico, and Canada has seen significant changes to match timing. FIFA referees chief Pierluigi Collina introduced several measures to combat time-wasting, including five-second countdowns for goal kicks and throw-ins, a ten-second limit for substitutions, and a requirement for injured players to stay off the field for at least one minute.
Compared to previous tournaments, matches are shorter. In Qatar 2022, games averaged over 100 minutes; now the average match length is 96 minutes and 8 seconds (excluding hydration breaks). The ball-in-play percentage has also increased significantly – currently 59.38%, compared to 56.86% in Qatar and 56.25% in Russia.
While these measures appear effective, it remains to be seen whether similar results can be achieved in long league seasons, such as the English Premier League.
