World Cup ’26

The Basics

The Field

A rectangular grass pitch roughly 105 meters long and 68 meters wide. Two goals, one at each end. Here's what the lines mean: the halfway line splits the field in two; all players must be in their own half at kickoff. The penalty area is the large rectangle (40m wide, 16.5m deep) in front of each goal; fouls by the defending team inside it result in a penalty kick. The goal area is the smaller rectangle (18m wide, 5.5m deep) inside that; goal kicks are taken from here. The penalty spot sits 11 meters out from the center of the goal.

The Time

90 minutes split into two 45-minute halves. The referee adds stoppage time at the end of each half for delays. In knockout matches, a draw after 90 minutes means 30 minutes of extra time, then a penalty shootout if still level. Group stage draws just split the points.

The Players

Each team fields 11 players: typically 1 goalkeeper, 4 defenders, 3 midfielders, and 3 forwards (though formations vary). The goalkeeper is the only player allowed to handle the ball, and only inside their own penalty area. During a penalty kick, the keeper can move along the goal line while the shooter runs up.

Infractions

Yellow & Red Cards

A yellow card is a warning. Two yellows in the same match = automatic red and ejection. A straight red is for serious fouls or dangerous play; the team plays with 10 and cannot bring on a replacement. If a player picks up yellow cards in two separate group stage matches, they're automatically suspended for their next match. Card counts reset after the group stage and again after the quarterfinals.

Handballs

A handball is called when a player's hand (fingertips to armpit) deliberately or unnaturally obstructs the ball or leads to a goal. FIFA's interpretation differs slightly from domestic leagues, which causes some confusion. A handball in the box = penalty. Outside the box = free kick.

Offside

A player is offside if they're ahead of the last defender when the ball is played to them. If the ball ricochets off a defender to an offside-positioned attacker, play stops. But if an opponent intercepts a pass intended for an offside player, play continues. You can't be offside from a throw-in, corner, or goal kick.

▶ Watch: offside explained

Penalty Kicks, Corner Kicks, and Free Kicks

Penalty Kick

Awarded when the defending team commits a foul inside their own penalty area. One attacker faces the goalkeeper one-on-one from 11 meters out, and the keeper must stay on the goal line until the ball is struck. All of the other players have to wait outside the box until the kick is taken.

Statistically, the shooter scores about 75–80% of the time.

Free Kick

Awarded anywhere on the pitch when a foul or handball occurs outside the penalty area. Defenders must stand at least 9.15 meters back, usually forming a wall to block the incoming shot. A direct free kick can go straight into the goal; an indirect free kick must touch another player first.

Corner Kick

Awarded when a defending player is the last to touch the ball before it crosses their own goal line. The attacking team restarts from the corner arc, roughly 20 meters from goal. Corners are prime scoring opportunities: the kicker whips the ball into the box, and teammates try to win it in the air or set up a shot. A goal can also be scored directly from a corner (it's rare but happens).