It’s easy to overlook obscure FIFA soccer rules when the World Cup is in full swing.
There’s already so much happening during the tournament that the thought of diving into a complex web of rules, governed by the International Football Association Board (IFAB,) can be daunting.
And, to some extent, the process can prove pointless. Pointless in that there are so many rules that it can seem like a waste of time to brush up on guidelines that might not even transpire.
But what if a player bites another player during a game? Or if a beach ball thrown from the stands blocks the game ball during a scoring opportunity? Because both examples have occurred in the past, we have a good idea as to how referees deal with these situations.
There are endless variables that can take place during a soccer game that even the most diehard fans can be left scratching their heads, wondering what the official rules of the game actually dictate.
From balls popping during games to dogs running on the field, we delve into the world of weird soccer rules to figure out how to deal with odd moments that might unfold during the 2026 World Cup in Mexico, Canada, and the United States.
What happens if a World Cup match gets abandoned?
There are multiple acceptable reasons that can cause the abandonment of a World Cup game.
Poor weather conditions, crowd disturbances, or stadium power failures can all lead referees to delaying matches. These force majeure (unforeseeable circumstances) events often bring games to a halt and force players to retreat to their dressing rooms.
If such incidents take place before games, kick-off will usually be moved to a later time when resumption is possible.
However, if they occur during games then matches will restart at the exact minute in which the play was forced to stop. Rather than restarting from 0-0, the score stays the same as it was at the time of the delay.
The exact same players who were on the pitch are also required to return to their positions before teams are allowed to make substitutions.
At the World Cup, FIFA prefers to resume games no later than the day after a match gets abandoned in order to avoid disrupting the tournament’s schedule.
Can a goalkeeper score in the World Cup?
Yes, a goalkeeper is treated like any of the other players on the field and is eligible to score.
While such instances are extremely rare, especially at the World Cup, it’s not entirely out of the realm of possibility.
Goalkeepers have been known to score from goal kicks, but usually don’t do so unless conditions are windy enough to carry the ball far down the field or help the ball rise abnormally high off of a bounce.
They can also run up the field to join teammates queuing up for a corner kick. This usually occurs late in games when teams are trailing and leaving the net empty is a risk worth taking.
But, while goalkeepers are famous for using their hands, they aren’t allowed to throw the ball directly into the net, no matter the distance. Throwing the ball into the opposing net would result in a goal kick for the other team.
Don’t get your hopes up for this summer, though, as no goalkeeper has ever recorded a goal in World Cup history.
Would a goal scored directly from kick-off count?
Scoring directly from kick-off at the start of a game is totally legal. Now that teams are no longer required to touch the ball twice from kick-off, it’s possible for an audacious player to unleash a shot from the centre circle and score.
But the likelihood of the ball going into the net is very low from this area at the World Cup – or any professional soccer game for that matter.
Although no one has ever scored directly from kick-off, there have been lightning-fast goals scored throughout the history of the World Cup. Turkey’s Hakan Sukur holds the record for the fastest goal at a World Cup after scoring just 11 seconds into a game against South Korea in 2002. The goal transpired after a defensive error rather than being scored directly from kick-off.
Scoring directly from kick-offs is more likely to occur in lower soccer leagues instead of the World Cup, as goalkeepers would need to be caught off guard for someone to convert from so far away.
What happens if a dog or another animal runs onto the field during a World Cup game?
A dog running onto the field can often be a wholesome and viral moment in soccer. It’s also downright funny, as players chase the four-legged pitch invaders around the field before getting dog slobber all over their faces after a successful catch.
It happens more often than some might think. And that’s why referees are prepared for when dogs, or any animal enters the field of play.
As soon as a dog—categorized as an “outside agent” by FIFA—interferes with play, the match is immediately stopped. Once the animal is removed, the game restarts with a drop ball to the team that was in possession at the time of the disruption.
There are also guidelines in the event that a dog touches the ball as it’s going into the net. So long as the pooch doesn’t interfere with defenders, goals will still be awarded if a goal-bound ball is touched by a dog without changing its direction.
However, if a dog saves the ball from going in, no goal will be awarded. Amazingly, this technically means that a stray dog could deny Lionel Messi a goal-scoring opportunity at the 2026 World Cup.
What happens if the ball pops during a goal?
A ball popping during a soccer game is among one of the more bizarre sights to behold. A ball getting punctured on its way into the net is even more unusual.
While it’s extremely unlikely to happen this summer, there are protocols for such an oddity.
A ball getting punctured on its way into the net without fully crossing the goal line won’t result in a goal being awarded. The referee would halt play before resuming with a dropped ball, at the location where it popped, to the team that was in possession at the time.
The goal will only stand if the ball pops, either by a sharp object or natural cause, after it crosses the line.
The last time a ball popped or malfunctioned during a World Cup game was in 2018. The Adidas Telstar 18 lost pressure multiple times during the World Cup in Russia, including twice during a game between France and Australia.
Quick hits
What if a team refuses to take a penalty?
The thought of a team refusing to take a penalty is almost incomprehensible. But such incidents have occurred in the past.
The decision to refuse a penalty is usually born out of protest or sportsmanship. But, no matter the noble cause, such an act comes with significant consequences. Referees have the authority to abandon games if the situation persists and the refusing team is issued with a 3-0 defeat.
What happens if a player scores an own goal in extra time?
There are some that believe the myth that own goals in extra time don’t count. This is completely false.
Whether a player scores an own goal in the first minute of extra time or the last, it will count against his team while benefitting the opposition.