MLS's bold new rules could change soccer forever

With new rules aimed at minimizing time-wasting, Major League Soccer has just made a bold move to try to change the face of soccer. From this season, the American league is trying out changes with the express intention of making the game more fluid and spectacular. Four years away from the 2026 World Cup, MLS wants to be a lab for soccer to innovate. Time-Wasting Rules: A Change or Necessity?

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Time-wasting concerns are nothing new. During the tensest moments of any match, watching players stroll off the field when being substituted or taking their time to receive medical attention will frustrate even the biggest fan. That is what Major League Soccer is attempting to crack down on.

One of them is that any substituted player has to leave the field within 10 seconds. Again, the penalty is against the team because it has to play with one man less for one minute as the substitute has to wait before he can enter the field.

The rule is designed to stop slow substitutions, specifically those at the end of matches when a team in the lead constantly tries to waste time. "We're seeing that with time-wasting related to substitutions, specifically when a team is ahead, has been reduced," said Ali Curtis, MLS Senior VP of Soccer Development. Early data suggests the rule is already having an impact, with just 18 violations of the time limit in over 2,000 substitutions.

Off-Field Treatment: Avoiding Needless Breaks

Another main rule instigated by MLS is the "off-field treatment" rule. This means that any player requiring treatment on the field of play must leave the field to do so and remain off it for at least two minutes. There are, of course, several exceptions-such as head injuries-but the central notion remains to try and avoid time-wasting in simulating injuries to disrupt the rhythm of the match.

Curtis said there were an average of 5.25 long injury stoppages per game before the rule was brought in; now there are less than 1.5 per game. And contrary to the fear of some, there has not been an uptick in fouls, yellow cards, or red cards since the rule was enacted. "The rules are working," Curtis said, citing stats from more than 225 games.

Beyond MLS: A Global Impact

MLS does not stop with its aim to have these changes spill beyond its league. These are discussions going on between the league, IFAB-the organization responsible for soccer rules-and other leagues from various parts of the world for the goal of having these rules global. Curtis does dream big-seeing these measures in the 2026 World Cup to be held in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.

"We're on the right track," Curtis said. In his view, even though soccer has more than a century of history, the game has to move with the times. And that means rule changes. "How the game is played, tactics, players—everything has evolved. But the rules, at their core, have stayed the same."

This modernization of soccer is part of the overall effort by MLS to market itself as an innovative league. That these changes are already beginning to pay dividends, in both player well-being and pace of game, reinforces the notion that soccer, like any other sport, needs to adapt itself to the modern world.

Reaction by Players and Clubs

Not surprisingly, initial reaction was cautious. Players, coaches, and fans were accustomed to the historical cadence of the game, and any rule change quite naturally will raise a concern. Many feared that the new rule allowing for off-field treatment would promote more physical type of play, as players would not want to leave the pitch for treatment.

Yet, the statistics lead to another conclusion. The number of fouls and cards hasn't increased despite those changes. It means players aren't getting more aggressive; they are simply becoming more considerate of keeping the game in motion. This very change in behavior could be the factor that modern soccer needs.

Besides, the reaction from players and coaches to the 10-second substitution rule has been positive. They understand that the rhythm of the game has to be there and that unnecessary delays take away from the excitement and spectacle that the fans come to see.

The Future of Soccer: MLS's Role

With that said, MLS holds a unique position in the world of soccer. While it is one of the big leagues, its age can be considered younger than the Premier League or La Liga, having that freedom to try new things and be innovative in areas that more traditional leagues are too stubborn to adopt. Its boldness may be exactly what the sport needs to evolve to keep up with the times without losing its essence.

It's proving the fact that small changes have big effects on MLS's new rules, making substitutions faster, avoiding useless stoppage for injuries-all things that could make soccer an even more dynamic and engaging sport.

With the 2026 World Cup looming, the soccer world will be looking on with a close eye to see how this innovation by MLS plays out. And if effective, other leagues will more than likely follow suit, meaning the sport most of us love may just be about to move into a new era.