New World Cup rule used for first time in warm-up fixture which decided result of game

A new World Cup rule has been used for the first time in a warm-up fixture between Japan and Iceland, which decided the game's outcome.

Japan secured a 1-0 friendly victory against Iceland, with the winning moment arriving in the 87th minute when Koki Ogawa headed home.

He was able to benefit from Iceland being reduced to 10 men due to the newly implemented time-limited substitution rule.

Iceland winger Isak Thorvaldsson found himself stranded on the touchline after his team failed to complete a change within the mandated timeframe.

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Ogawa's decisive header came precisely 1 minute and 54 seconds after officials prevented Thorvaldsson from entering the field of play.

The International Football Association Board introduced the regulation ahead of this summer's tournament as part of a broader crackdown on time-wasting tactics.

Under the new framework, substituted players must depart the pitch at the nearest boundary within 10 seconds of being signalled off.

Failure to meet this deadline triggers an automatic penalty: the incoming replacement cannot step onto the field until the following stoppage in play, with a minimum wait of 60 seconds.

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This effectively forces teams to continue playing a man short, as Iceland discovered to their cost during their encounter in the closing stages.

Japan manager Hajime Moriyasu used the incident as a cautionary tale for his squad ahead of their World Cup opener against the Netherlands on June 14.

He said: "I thought the players handled the new rule adjustments today with almost no issues.

"Under the new rules, players won't necessarily be able to get back on the pitch as quickly as before. That's something we need to be mindful of.

"Whether it's during substitutions or in other moments, we need to avoid creating openings that give the opponent a chance."

Moriyasu also emphasised the tactical significance of the newly introduced three-minute hydration breaks scheduled for each half.

He said: "In those three minutes, we have to organise the key points we need to get across and communicate them clearly to the players.

"I felt that how well we use those three minutes could have a major impact on the outcome of matches, so we want to prepare thoroughly."

Additional regulations target deliberate time-wasting, with five-second countdowns now applying to throw-ins and goal-kicks, potentially resulting in possession being awarded to opponents.

Players requiring medical attention must remain off the pitch for 60 seconds, while VAR officials can now review corner decisions and second yellow card dismissals.

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