English football will introduce a wide set of law changes for the 2026-27 season, beginning with the Community Shield, to reduce timewasting and increase the amount of football played. The measures, trialled at the World Cup, are intended to change players’ behaviour and limit frustrating delays without relying on large amounts of added time.

Referees can impose five-second countdowns on delayed throw-ins and goal-kicks, awarding possession or a corner to opponents if the restart is not taken promptly. Substituted players must leave within 10 seconds or their replacement must wait at least a minute, leaving the team temporarily short-handed; injured players who stop play will generally have to remain off for one minute. At the World Cup, the ball was in play for 58 minutes 16 seconds, or 60.43% of match time, compared with 56.86% in Qatar 2022.