Aksel Kryhlmand
“We need to do it when we are sure this will not affect the decision-making process”
As the new-look 32-team FIFA Club World Cup unfolds, a series of experimental innovations have taken center stage.
Some have entertained, others divided opinion, and a few have prompted outright confusion.
From glitzy pre-match routines to tighter technical regulations, FIFA’s willingness to reinvent football’s oldest routines has raised the question, are these changes improving the game, or turning it into a sideshow?
1. Individual Player Walk-Ons
One of the most noticeable changes at this tournament has been the individual walk-on for every starting player before kickoff.
Echoing pre-fight intros in boxing or WWE entrances, each player emerges solo, name called, under the spotlight.
Chelsea’s Romeo Lavia voiced support:
I think it’s something special and new for us. I enjoyed it. Why not bring it to the Premier League? It’s a bit of a showbiz thing.
But not everyone’s convinced. Fans and broadcasters alike have complained about kickoff delays, and the pageantry has been criticized as distracting from the game itself. What’s more, in colder venues, players left standing in line during intros have risked losing their warm-up edge.
Verdict: Mixed reception. Fun for fans, frustrating for purists.
2. Ref Cam
The referee bodycam footage, branded ‘Ref Cam’, provides exclusive angles from the tunnel, pre-match warmups, and the coin toss. During matches, however, live footage is withheld, with only select moments, like Rico Lewis’ red card challenge, replayed post-decision.
While it adds cinematic flair and deepens storytelling, it lacks the real-time transparency seen in rugby or the NFL. Fans still cannot hear VAR conversations, and controversial decisions remain opaque.
FIFA’s refereeing chief Pierluigi Collina defends the measured rollout:
We need to do it when we are sure this will not affect the decision-making process.
Verdict: Visually engaging, but still too cautious to deliver true transparency.
3. The Eight-Second Rule
Goalkeepers now have a maximum of eight seconds to release the ball after gaining control.
Violation? A corner kick to the opposition.
Al Hilal’s Yassine Bounou was penalized in the 96th minute against Real Madrid, nearly costing his team a vital result. Mamelodi Sundowns’ Ronwen Williams suffered the same fate earlier.
DAZN’s Michael Brown called it “big drama” — and he wasn’t wrong. Referees now count down the final five seconds with an arm signal, but judging “control” remains subjective.
Verdict: Adds urgency but introduces grey areas. Enforcement consistency is key.
4. Stadium VAR Replays
VAR calls are now shown directly on stadium big screens, along with explanations from the referee, a practice pioneered at recent World Cups.
It brings fans into the decision-making process and curtails conspiracy theories. But there’s still no audio from the VAR booth, and in controversial cases, that limits clarity.
Verdict: A much-needed improvement in visibility. One step closer to full transparency.
5. Faster Offside Calls
FIFA’s new enhanced semi-automated offside (SAO) alerts officials in real time if a player more than 10cm offside touches the ball. The system aims to eliminate delays and prevent dangerous play after the whistle should’ve blown.
This change follows an incident in the Premier League where Taiwo Awoniyi suffered a serious injury after play continued needlessly.
Verdict: Smart and safety-driven. A clear win for player welfare and match flow.
6. Superior Player of the Match
Gone is “Man of the Match“. Now it’s the “Superior Player of the Match”, chosen by public vote via FIFA+ between the 60th and 88th minute.
It boosts fan engagement but is essentially a branding play by sponsor Michelob, the American beer giant. The term “Superior” has drawn bemused reactions, and the award risks becoming a popularity contest rather than a merit-based honor.
Verdict: Fun, but corporate. Less about superior play, more about superior branding.
Innovation with Growing Pains
FIFA’s bold new Club World Cup format has served as a live testing lab for football’s future from smart tech to showbiz spectacle. While some changes enhance fairness and engagement, others feel more cosmetic or underdeveloped.
The eight-second rule and faster offsides are steps toward sharper, safer play. Ref cam and VAR replays push football toward long-awaited transparency. Meanwhile, glitzy walk-ons and award names show a sport grappling with its identity in an era of entertainment-first thinking.
As with all experiments, time, and fan response, will determine what sticks.