Scotland v Belarus 2026 FIFA World Cup, WM, Weltmeisterschaft, Fussball Qualifier 12/10/2025. Group C Andy Robertson 3 - Scotland during the 2026 FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Scotland and Belarus at Hampden Park, Glasgow, United Kingdom on 12 October 2025. Editorial use only , Copyright: xRaymondxDaviesx PSI-23024-0049
Scotland manager Steve Clarke has been forced to hold an urgent team meeting after a series of sweeping rule changes were introduced just ahead of the World Cup.
Clarke had planned to personally scout opening Group C opponents Haiti, who were playing New Zealand in Fort Lauderdale on Tuesday night.
Instead, he was required to stay at the team hotel to attend an online tutorial with FIFA officials covering the new crackdown on time wasting.
His coaching staff were dispatched to the match in his place, watching Haiti record a commanding 4-0 victory over New Zealand.
The new regulations place players on a stopwatch during throw-ins, goal kicks, and substitutions, demanding a significant shift in how teams prepare and manage game situations.
Clarke has already restructured his training schedule to ensure his squad understands the protocol before their competitive matches begin.
Speaking about the changes, Clarke said: “The biggest thing about the Bolivia game at the weekend will be getting used to the conditions, getting used to the 22 minute periods and getting used to the three minute water breaks.”
He added: “And then there’s all the little rules that IFAB have suddenly said, ‘We’re going to try this!’. What a time to experiment!”
Clarke highlighted several specific scenarios that could catch players off guard, including a five-second rule for throw-ins and goal kicks that raises immediate questions about exactly when the clock begins.
He explained: “There’s a five second rule to take a throw-in. So when does the throw-in start? There’s five seconds to take a goal kick. When does that start? When the goalkeeper puts the ball down or when he moves backwards to take it?”
The substitution rules carry particularly high stakes, as Clarke pointed to a dramatic example from the Iceland versus Japan match where a delayed substitution had costly consequences.
He said: “The second substitution coming off takes longer than 10 seconds to get off the pitch so the referee tells the fourth official, ‘Don’t allow that sub’.”
The result was that Iceland were reduced to ten men for a crucial minute, during which Japan scored to win the game 1-0, a scenario Clarke is determined to prevent repeating.
He said: “So our boys need to know about that and lots of little things that they are trying to bring in.”
Scotland’s final warm-up match against Bolivia in New Jersey on Saturday will serve as a critical opportunity for the squad to adapt to the new format of four periods separated by water breaks.
Clarke described Tuesday’s training session as being structured specifically around that adjustment, with two 20-minute possession blocks each followed by a three-minute water break.
He noted that players needed to be physically and mentally ready to perform again immediately after those breaks, even when exhausted.
Clarke said of the online rules briefing: “We have an online meeting with a referee who will come on and explain all the different changes. Hopefully it’s pretty clear.”
Scotland face Haiti in Boston on June 14 in their Group C opener, with Clarke now racing to ensure his squad is fully prepared for a tournament operating under a significantly different set of rules.
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