Using World Cup rules: A summary of 9 key points to know before Thailand's national team competes in the 2026 ASEAN Cup.
On 25 July 2026 GMT+7, the ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) held a team managers' meeting ahead of the 2026 ASEAN Football Championship group stage, Group B opener between Laos (world ranking 185) and Thailand (world ranking 94).
The 2026 ASEAN Cup will implement rules used in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, including the following:
- The referee blows the whistle and starts a 5-second countdown with a hand signal. If the throw-in is not taken within 5 seconds, the opposing team is awarded the throw-in without a yellow card, unless deliberate time-wasting occurs, in which case the referee may exercise discretion. For example, if the player needs to run to take a long throw, the count starts once ready.
- Once the ball is placed for the goal kick, the referee starts a 5-second countdown. Failure to kick within this time awards a corner kick to the opposing team. This mirrors the throw-in rule to prevent time-wasting.
- If a player receives treatment or assessment on the field, after play resumes, the player must wait 1 minute (running clock) before re-entering. The referee may allow re-entry even if the ball is in play.
Exceptions include goalkeepers or injuries caused by fouls where the opponent received a yellow or red card, or other special cases per the rules. This aims to reduce players feigning injury to waste time.
- When a substitution is made, the player leaving must exit within 10 seconds. If exceeded, the substitute cannot enter until 1 minute after play restarts. This prevents slow exits to waste time.
- Match officials have authority to prohibit or interrupt coaching staff from giving tactical instructions to players during stoppages caused by injuries and ongoing treatment.
- Referees will use discretion to penalize players who cover their mouths during verbal disputes, except during normal conversations or teammates briefing tactics.
- If any player or personnel deliberately walks out in protest, the referee may issue a straight red card. If the game cannot continue, that team will forfeit the match.
VAR technology will be used in all 2026 ASEAN Cup matches with additional conditions beyond the usual four scenarios:
- Goal/no goal checks
- Penalty/no penalty checks
- Direct red card/no red card checks
- Identification errors in issuing yellow/red cards
The expanded authority includes:
- Clear errors in issuing a second yellow card
- Incorrect yellow/red cards issued to the wrong player (whether on the same or opposing team)
- Incorrect awarding of corner kicks
- Offenses committed before the restart of play
* If the VAR system malfunctions during a match, the game continues without VAR assistance and this will not cause match cancellation or replay.
When VAR service resumes:
1. Immediate use: When signal and video are restored, the referee is informed and VAR restarts from the next relevant incident.
2. No retrospective reviews: VAR cannot review or alter decisions made during the downtime.
3. Match decisions during VAR outage stand as final and valid.
4. Transparency: Match officials must inform team managers and captains of both sides immediately when VAR is operational again.
- Hydration breaks during matches will not be used in the 2026 ASEAN Cup.
Thailand's first match in the 2026 ASEAN Football Championship schedule:
Date: 25 July 2026 GMT+7
20:00: Laos vs. Thailand
Venue: Laos National Stadium, Main Stadium 16
Live broadcast on: TrueVisions Now application