Players will be sent off for covering their mouths in new World Cup rule

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Players at the 2026 World Cup will be prohibited from covering their mouths while talking to opposing players, and doing so will result in a red card.

With the U.S. tournament happening in just over two months, FIFA has already started making some significant changes to the rules of the game.

FIFA is facing criticism for both the high cost of tickets to this year’s tournament and a new rule instructing referees to issue red cards to players who cover their mouths during games.

FIFA introduces wild new rule ahead of 2026 World Cup

This week, the International Football Association Board (IFAB) met in Canada and announced new rules that FIFA has approved. These changes will be in effect during the World Cup this summer.

As a football fan, I recently learned about a pretty interesting rule clarification. Apparently, if you get in someone’s face and cover their mouth during a match, you’ll be sent off with a red card! It all came about after an incident a few months ago – Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni actually put his shirt over his mouth while talking to Vinicius Jr. during a game, and it sparked a discussion about what’s allowed. So now it’s clear – covering an opponent’s mouth is a no-no and will get you a red card.

During the Champions League match, the Argentine player was initially accused of making a racist remark towards Vinicius Jr. However, an investigation later revealed he had used language that was homophobic instead.

Players who cover their mouths while facing an opponent will be shown a red card at the upcoming World Cup. This stricter rule is being introduced by FIFA after an incident involving Vinícius Júnior and Gianluca Prestianni earlier this year.

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) April 28, 2026

This incident led to a discussion at the IFAB, and the topic is now being addressed at their meeting in Vancouver this week.

The meeting on Tuesday also resulted in a decision that players who leave the field to protest could be shown a red card. This rule change follows a protest by Senegal during this year’s African Cup of Nations.

So, from what I understand, these new rules basically give the ref total freedom to decide what happens in each situation. They’ll look at everything going on – the whole context – before making a call. It’s all up to their judgment now, it seems.

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2026-04-29 16:21