New football rules for 2026/27

Two sets of changes land in the 2026/27 season. The IFAB changed the Laws of the Game for everyone, mostly to stop time-wasting. And in England, grassroots youth football changed more than it has in years: new formats for every age group up to under-14, and no heading up to under-11. Here's what changed, in plain words.

By Squadcard. Last updated 23 October 2026.

In short

Throw-ins and goal kicks get a five-second countdown when a team delays; too slow and the restart goes to the other team.
A player treated for an injury on the pitch must stay off for a minute after play restarts.
A substituted player has ten seconds to leave the pitch.
In England, under-7s play 3v3 and each youth format moves a year later: 11v11 now starts at under-14.
Deliberate heading is out of England's grassroots matches up to and including under-11.

Changes to the Laws of the Game

The IFAB's changes for 2026/27, the ones you'll notice on a Sunday:

Throw-ins (Law 15): if a team unfairly delays one, the referee counts down five seconds; if it isn't taken by then, the throw goes to the other team.
Goal kicks (Law 16): the same countdown; a goal kick not taken in time becomes a corner to the other team. See corner kick rules.
Injuries (Law 5): a player treated on the pitch, or whose injury stopped or delayed play, must leave and stay off for one minute after play restarts.
Substitutions (Law 3): the player coming off must be off the pitch within ten seconds of the board going up, or the substitute has to wait until the first stoppage after a minute. More in substitution rules.
Jewellery (Law 4): the old ban becomes a rule on dangerous items. Accessories that aren't dangerous are allowed if safely and securely covered; dangerous ones must come off, not be taped.
Penalties (Law 14): if the taker accidentally touches the ball twice and it goes in, the kick is retaken; if it doesn't go in, it's an indirect free kick. In a shoot-out, it's retaken if it goes in and recorded as a miss if not.
Advantage (Law 12): no yellow card for denying an obvious goal-scoring chance when the referee plays advantage and the other team scores.
Friendlies (Law 3): up to eight substitutes in senior friendlies, or eleven if both teams agree and tell the referee.

New options competitions can choose

A sending-off for covering your mouth while saying something provocative or insulting to an opponent.
A sending-off for leaving the pitch in protest at a referee's decision, and for encouraging team-mates to do it.
Technology for VAR, goal-line decisions and offside, and body cameras for referees.
Coming later: the "only the captain" talks to the referee protocol becomes compulsory for every competition from 1 July 2027.

England's grassroots youth football (FutureFit)

From the start of the 2026/27 season, England Football's FutureFit changes play each format a year later than before, so children play smaller games for longer:

Under-7: 3v3, a new entry format with no goalkeepers and no referee. See the under-7 rules.
Under-8 and under-9: 5v5 (under-8, under-9).
Under-10 and under-11: 7v7 (under-10, under-11).
Under-12 and under-13: 9v9 (under-12, under-13).
Under-14 and up: 11v11, which used to start at under-13.
Heading: deliberate heading is now out of grassroots matches up to and including under-11 (under-11s are new this season). It's an indirect free kick, with no card unless it's persistent, and heading comes back at under-12.

And in your weekly game

Friends' games make their own rules, and most of these don't reach the Tuesday 5-a-side. The five-second countdown is worth stealing, though: agree it with the rest of your house rules. For the sides, the team generator splits whoever turns up into two fair teams.

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Playing every week?

If you play with the same group every week, Squadcard runs the game for you: everyone says in, maybe or out from a link in the group chat, the teams are picked fair from ratings your mates give after every game, and it keeps track of who owes for the pitch.

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Questions

What are the new football rules for 2026/27?

The main Laws of the Game changes are a five-second countdown for delayed throw-ins and goal kicks, a minute off the pitch for players treated for injury, ten seconds for a substituted player to leave, and accessories allowed if they aren't dangerous and are covered.

What happens if a goal kick takes too long?

After the referee's five-second countdown, a goal kick that still hasn't been taken becomes a corner kick to the other team.

What are the new FA rules for grassroots football in 2026/27?

Each youth format moves a year later: 3v3 for under-7s, 5v5 for under-8s and under-9s, 7v7 for under-10s and under-11s, 9v9 for under-12s and under-13s, and 11v11 from under-14. Deliberate heading is now out up to and including under-11.

Is heading banned in youth football in England?

Deliberate heading is removed from grassroots matches up to and including under-11 from 2026/27. It's an indirect free kick, and heading is reintroduced at under-12.