Following the 2026 World Cup, The Athletic asked readers for proposed rule changes. Suggestions included banning offsides in the penalty area, introducing timeouts, and shrinking the penalty box.
Other ideas focused on changing the format of the tournament or altering match rules to increase scoring or reduce stoppages. The proposals reflect a desire to evolve the game.
The article presents a range of fan-generated ideas for how the World Cup could be improved for future editions.