Reader-Suggested Changes to Improve the World Cup:
July 23, 2026 ·
In order to improve the World Cup experience, readers provide interesting suggestions regarding various rules in the match, from eliminating offsides to limiting rest time. Here are some of their input.
Reader-Suggested Changes to Improve the World Cup:
Why this is important
Proposed changes in football rules, such as the elimination of offside in the penalty area, could significantly change the dynamics of the game. This could increase the number of goals and make the match more interesting, especially for new viewers who want to enjoy the World Cup. With increasing criticism of the existing rules, this discussion reflects the need to adapt to current developments in this sport.
Background
Kylian Mbappe, as one of the best players in the world, is often the center of attention in every major tournament. With the potential for rule changes, the way Mbappe adapts and takes advantage of situations on the pitch could be key to the French team's success at the next World Cup.
Main Points
- Reader-Suggested Changes to Improve the World Cup:.
- In order to improve the World Cup experience, readers provide interesting suggestions regarding various rules in the match, from eliminating offsides to limiting rest time.
- World Cup changes our readers would make: Ban offsides in the area? Timeouts? Shrink penalty box? - The Athletic
John R. expressed, "I've followed this sport for so many years, I can't help but comment: get rid of VAR, except for goals and yellow cards for 'flopping' (falling). Then give red cards to repeat offenders, or anyone who rolls their body more than twice."
Martin W., a longtime fan, added, "The two most important changes are: eliminate 'hydration breaks' unless the weather requires it, and, if so, limit them to one minute and hold them on the opposite side of the field from the coach. Oh, and limit half-game time to 15 minutes without concerts."
Tim W. suggests, "Eliminate mandatory hydration breaks. Real football is two halves."
An anonymous reader suggested, "Abolish the universal hydration break or don't let broadcasters show commercials during the break, don't hold day games in tropical/subtropical climates, and stop the expansion of the group phase. FIFA will definitely pay close attention to what fans think about this."
Lance S. highlights the importance of an accurate scoreboard clock. "It's absurd that only one person in the stadium, or watching on TV, knows how much time is left in a half or game. Every other sport with time does that. Welcome to the 21st century."
Nick D. added, "Everyone should know when the game ends. It shouldn't be a mystery."
Matt S. proposed that a time limit be introduced in the "attacking phase of the game" for VAR to be reviewed. "This makes every goal risky because there are an infinite number of fouls. It also puts an unfair burden on the referee, because it is very subjective."
Many readers also dislike hydration breaks. Another anonymous reader said, "Minimize the penalty box. Many non-threatening plays lead to penalty kicks. This ruins the tournament."
Burnie H. suggested, "The player fouled should be the one to take the penalty. If it's handball, the team can choose the taker."
David M. expressed confusion regarding the offside rule when the ball is in the penalty box. "Once the ball enters the box, offsides should be removed because the bodies of both teams are very close together. Can someone explain why this is not a good idea?"
Meganmaxson212 added, "You need to fix the offside rule to score more goals — the whole body has to be offside. It's ridiculous to cancel a goal because a toe or shoulder is offside."
Dankelty suggests, "Eliminate hand placement on other players. There's too much shirt pulling. It affects the game, but it's never stopped."
Francis A. proposes return of 32-team World Cup. "This makes the qualifying process more competitive and improves the overall quality of the tournament. It would also eliminate the 'best third-placed team' rule, which I think makes no sense."
At the end, David E. proposed, "Abolish penalty kicks. It's a shame to end the world championship in a different way than most previous games. I don't care how tired the players are, someone has to score to win the game. And while we're at it, start giving penalties to players who feign injury."
Readers provided a variety of interesting and innovative insights that could improve the World Cup experience in the future. These changes reflect fans' hopes and aspirations to see better and fairer football in the future.
What happened next
In the future, discussions regarding changes to these rules may be brought to international football governing bodies for consideration. If the changes are accepted, we could see the implementation of the new rules in future tournaments, which could affect the way teams like Ecuador, Spain and Morocco play. This could also have an impact on star players like Kylian Mbappe, who is always in the spotlight at the World Cup.
Frequently Asked Questions
What changes do readers suggest for the World Cup?
Readers proposed eliminating offsides in the penalty area, eliminating hydration breaks and limiting half-match time.
Who confirmed the existence of the proposed change?
The proposed changes were gathered from readers of The Athletic, including fans old and new.
Why is this change being proposed now?
This change was proposed towards the end of the first World Cup with 48 teams, after seeing various controversies and new experiences in the tournament.
What are the proposed changes regarding hydration breaks?
Some readers suggested eliminating mandatory hydration breaks, unless the weather requires them, and limiting their duration.
What controversies occurred during this World Cup?
The controversies included the suspended ban, the half-time show in the final, and the use of VAR.