Wenger's Offside Rule Proposal Gains Ground for 2026-27

 

FIFA and the International Football Association Board (IFAB) have taken a major step towards changing the offside law in football, potentially reshaping how the game is officiated from the 2026–27 season onward.

Under the current rule, a player is ruled offside if any part of the attacker’s body that can legally play the ball is ahead of the last defender at the moment a pass is played. This has led to countless marginal offsides decided by VAR to the frustration of fans and players alike.

Now, IFAB has formally opened discussions on a new interpretation — widely associated with former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger, FIFA’s head of global football development. The proposal would mean a player is only considered offside if their entire body is clearly beyond the last defender, eliminating decisions based on tiny body parts like toes or shoulders.

What This Change Means

1. Only full body advantage counts — An attacker must be completely ahead of the defender for offside to be called.

2. No more millimetre calls — It would end controversial VAR offsides decided by tiny fractions of a player’s body.

3. More attacking play? — Supporters of the idea believe it could lead to more goals and more flowing football

The proposal — often dubbed the “Wenger Law” — is to be discussed at IFAB’s technical meeting in January 2026, with a possible vote later at the General Assembly. If approved, it could be implemented as early as the 2026–27 season. 

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has publicly acknowledged that this idea is now “on the agenda”, confirming that the organisation is seriously considering the change ahead of the 2026 World Cup cycle.