FIFA Club World Cup Introduces Goalkeeper Rule, Referee Body Cams

At the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, new rules and technologies aimed at enhancing fan experience and game transparency will be implemented. One key rule change mandates goalkeepers to release the ball within eight seconds, with referees signaling when five seconds remain and awarding a corner kick if the keeper delays beyond the limit, addressing persistent time-wasting tactics. Additionally, referees will wear body cameras attached to their earpieces to provide viewers with unique perspectives during broadcasts, although these camera angles will be limited to non-controversial situations and will not influence VAR decisions. FIFA's head of officiating, Pierluigi Collina, emphasized that these innovations focus more on entertainment and enhancing the viewer experience than on aiding referees' decision-making. The tournament will also feature live stadium displays of VAR review footage, marking a gradual move toward greater transparency. While these changes represent significant experimentation, FIFA acknowledges this is a step-by-step process toward evolving how football matches are officiated and presented to audiences.