Rules for the 2026 World Cup
Rules for the 2026 World Cup
2026年世界盃規則
Introduction
The 2026 World Cup is in the final games. Teams must win to stay in the tournament. There are rules for ties and offsides.
2026年世界盃已進入最後階段的比賽。球隊必須獲勝才能留在賽事中。針對平局與越位設有相關規則。
Main Body
If a game is a tie after 90 minutes, players play for 30 more minutes. If it is still a tie, they take penalty kicks. One player kicks the ball and the goalkeeper tries to stop it. Paraguay and Morocco won games this way.
如果比賽在90分鐘後仍為平手，球員需再比賽30分鐘。如果依然平手，則採取點球對決。由一名球員踢球，而守門員則嘗試攔截。巴拉圭與摩洛哥就是以此方式獲勝的。
Players must follow strict rules for penalty kicks. The ball must stay on the white spot. Other players must stay away from the area. Some players missed because they are not experienced or they made mistakes.
球員在執行點球時必須遵守嚴格規則。球必須留在白色原點上。其他球員必須遠離該區域。部分球員因缺乏經驗或犯錯而射失。
There is a new idea for the offside rule. Now, a player is offside if they are in front of the last defender. A new rule called 'daylight' says players can be further forward. This rule would allow more goals in the game.
越位規則現在有一個新構想。現在，若球員位於最後一名防守球員之前，即被判定為越位。一項名為「日光 (daylight)」的新規則指出球員可以站位更靠前。這項規則將允許比賽中出現更多進球。
Conclusion
The World Cup uses old rules now. But the new 'daylight' rule might change the game in the future.
世界盃目前使用舊有規則。但新的「日光」規則在未來可能會改變比賽。
Vocabulary Learning
⚽ Word Power: 'Stay'
In this story, the word stay is used in different ways. It is a very useful word for A2 learners because it describes a state that does not change.
1. To remain in a place or position
- "Teams must stay in the tournament." (They do not leave)
- "Other players must stay away." (They do not come closer)
2. To keep a specific condition
- "The ball must stay on the white spot." (It does not move)
🕒 The 'If' Pattern
Notice how the text connects a condition to a result. This is how we talk about rules:
If [Condition] [Result]
- If a game is a tie players play 30 more minutes.
- If it is still a tie they take penalty kicks.
Quick Tip: Use 'If' whenever you want to explain what happens under a specific situation.
Vocabulary Learning
Analysis of Rules and Tie-Breaking Procedures in the 2026 FIFA World Cup
2026年FIFA世界盃規則與平分決定賽程序分析
Introduction
The 2026 FIFA World Cup has reached the knockout stage. This phase requires the use of specific tie-breaking rules and has sparked new discussions about how the offside rule is interpreted.
2026年FIFA世界盃已進入淘汰賽階段。此階段需要使用特定的平分決定規則，並引發了關於越位規則如何解釋的新討論。
Main Body
In the knockout stage, every match must have a winner. If the score is tied after the regular 90 minutes, the teams play two 15-minute periods of extra time. If the score remains equal, a penalty shootout begins. This process starts with a coin toss to decide the order, followed by five rounds of shots. If the score is still tied, 'sudden death' continues until a winner is found. In this tournament, there have been 13 penalties during regular play and two matches decided by shootouts, including wins for Paraguay and Morocco.
在淘汰賽中，每場比賽必須分出勝負。如果正規90分鐘後平手，兩隊將進行兩個15分鐘的延長賽。如果比分依然相同，則進入點球對決。此過程先透過擲硬幣決定順序，隨後進行五輪射門。若比分仍持平，將採取「突然死亡法」直到分出勝負。在本屆賽事中，正規時間共出現13次點球，有兩場比賽由點球對決決定，包括巴拉圭與摩洛哥獲勝。
Penalty kicks must follow strict rules. The ball must stay on the penalty spot, and other players must stay outside the penalty area. Goalkeepers must remain on or behind the goal line until the ball is kicked. Success often depends on the player's experience and the goalkeeper's strategy. Some failures were caused by a lack of professional experience, such as Jonathan Tah's miss, or by trying tactics that were too complicated, as seen with Lionel Messi and Achraf Hakimi.
點球射門必須遵循嚴格規則。球必須停在點球點上，其他球員必須留在禁區外。守門員在球被踢出前必須留在球門線上或其後。成功與否通常取決於球員的經驗與守門員的策略。部分失誤是由於缺乏專業經驗，例如 Jonathan Tah 的失球，或是嘗試過於複雜的戰術，如 Lionel Messi 與 Achraf Hakimi 所示。
At the same time, the offside rule is being questioned. Currently, a player is offside if they are ahead of the second-to-last defender when the ball is played. However, the Canadian Premier League (CPL) and FIFA are testing a 'daylight' rule proposed by Arsene Wenger. Under this system, a player is onside if any part of their body used for scoring is level with the defender, meaning there must be a visible gap to call an offside. The CPL emphasized that 17 World Cup goals would have been allowed under this new rule. Executive Vice President Costa Smyrniotis asserted that this trial aims to increase attacking play and make the game more exciting.
與此同時，越位規則正受到質疑。目前，若球員在傳球時位於倒數第二名防守球員之前，即被判定為越位。然而，加拿大超級聯賽 (CPL) 與 FIFA 正在測試由 Arsene Wenger 提出的「日光」規則。在此系統下，只要球員用於得分的身體任何部位與防守球員持平，即為在位，意味著必須有明顯的差距才能判定越位。CPL 強調，若採用新規則，世界盃將有17個進球被允許。執行副總裁 Costa Smyrniotis 聲明，此次試行旨在增加進攻表現，使比賽更加精彩。
Conclusion
While the tournament is currently using traditional rules, the CPL's trial of the 'daylight' rule could lead to future changes in FIFA's official regulations.
雖然目前賽事仍使用傳統規則，但 CPL 對「日光」規則的試行可能會導致 FIFA 未來的官方條例有所改變。
Vocabulary Learning
The 'B2 Leap': Moving from Simple Actions to Complex Conditions
An A2 student says: "The game is a tie. They play extra time."
To reach B2, you must connect ideas using Conditional Logic. In the article, we see a sequence of events that only happen if something else happens first. This is the secret to sounding more fluent.
⚡ The 'If' Chain (The Logic of the Match)
Look at how the text describes the knockout stage. It doesn't just list rules; it creates a logical flow:
- The Trigger: "If the score is tied..." The Result: "...the teams play extra time."
- The Second Trigger: "If the score remains equal..." The Result: "...a penalty shootout begins."
The B2 Strategy: Stop using short, choppy sentences. Instead of saying "I am tired. I will sleep," use the B2 bridge: "If I am tired, I will sleep."
🧠 Precision Vocabulary: 'Remain' vs. 'Stay'
At A2, you know the word 'stay'. At B2, you use 'remain' for formal or technical descriptions.
- A2 Style: "The players stay outside the area."
- B2 Style: "The score remains equal."
Pro Tip: Use remain when describing a state that does not change, especially in reports or official rules.
🔍 The 'Passive' Shift
Notice this phrase: "...17 World Cup goals would have been allowed under this new rule."
This is a 'Passive' structure. We don't care who allowed the goals; we care that the goals were allowed.
Try this mindset shift:
- A2 (Active): "The referee called an offside."
- B2 (Passive): "An offside was called."
By focusing on the action rather than the person, your English becomes more professional and objective.
Vocabulary Learning
Analysis of Regulatory Frameworks and Match-Deciding Procedures in the 2026 FIFA World Cup
2026年FIFA世界盃監管框架與比賽決定程序分析
Introduction
The 2026 FIFA World Cup has entered its knockout phase, necessitating the application of tie-breaking protocols and highlighting ongoing debates regarding offside rule interpretations.
2026年FIFA世界盃已進入淘汰賽階段，因此需要應用打破僵局的協議，並突顯了關於越位規則解釋的持續爭論。
Main Body
The transition to the knockout stage mandates a definitive outcome for every fixture. In the event of a stalemate after the regulation 90-minute period, the protocol dictates the commencement of two 15-minute extra-time intervals. Should the score remain level thereafter, a penalty shootout is initiated. This procedure involves a coin toss to determine the sequence of attempts, followed by five alternating rounds of one-on-one confrontations between a designated kicker and the opposing goalkeeper. If parity persists after five rounds, 'sudden death' is implemented until a winner emerges. Statistical data from the current tournament indicates 13 penalty attempts during active play and two matches decided via shootout, including victories for Paraguay over Germany and Morocco over the Netherlands.
過渡到淘汰賽階段要求每場比賽必須有明確結果。如果在法定 90 分鐘比賽後仍處於僵局，協議規定將開始兩個 15 分鐘的延長賽。若比分隨後依然持平，則啟動點球大戰。此程序包括透過擲硬幣來決定嘗試順序，隨後由指定的踢球者與對方守門員進行五輪交替的一對一對抗。如果五輪後仍維持平手，將實施「突然死亡法」直到分出勝負。本屆賽事的統計數據顯示，比賽過程中共有 13 次點球嘗試，以及兩場比賽透過點球大戰決定結果，包括巴拉瓜伊擊敗德國以及摩洛哥擊敗荷蘭。
Technical execution of the penalty kick is governed by strict regulatory constraints. The ball must maintain contact with the penalty spot, and all non-participating players must remain outside the penalty area to avoid encroachment. Goalkeepers are required to remain on or behind the goal line until the ball is struck. The efficacy of these attempts is influenced by the kicker's experience and the goalkeeper's preparatory strategies. Instances of failure have been attributed to a lack of professional experience—exemplified by Jonathan Tah's unsuccessful attempt—or tactical over-complication, as seen in the efforts of Lionel Messi and Achraf Hakimi.
點球踢法的技術執行受嚴格的監管限制。球必須接觸點球點，且所有不參與的球員必須留在禁區外以避免干擾。守門員在球被踢出前必須留在門線上或門線後方。這些嘗試的成效受踢球者的經驗與守門員的準備策略影響。失敗的案例被歸因於缺乏專業經驗——例如 Jonathan Tah 的失敗嘗試——或戰術過於複雜，如 Lionel Messi 和 Achraf Hakimi 的嘗試。
Simultaneously, the application of the offside rule has become a point of institutional scrutiny. Current regulations stipulate that an attacking player is offside if they are positioned beyond the second-to-last defender at the moment the ball is played. However, the Canadian Premier League (CPL), in collaboration with FIFA, is currently trialing a 'daylight' interpretation proposed by Arsene Wenger. Under this framework, a player is deemed onside if any scoring-eligible body part is level with the defender, requiring a visible gap for an offside call. The CPL asserts that 17 World Cup goals, including attempts by Cristiano Ronaldo and Petar Sucic, would have been validated under this revised interpretation. Executive Vice President Costa Smyrniotis characterized this trial as a collaborative effort to enhance the offensive flow and entertainment value of the sport.
同時，越位規則的應用已成為機構審查的焦點。現行規定規定，如果在球被踢出的瞬間，進攻球員的位置處於倒數第二名防守球員之後，則處於越位狀態。然而，加拿大超級聯賽（CPL）目前正與 FIFA 合作，試行由 Arsene Wenger 提出的「日光（daylight）」解釋法。在此框架下，若球員任何可用於得分的身體部位與防守球員持平，則視為在位，必須有明顯間隙才會判為越位。CPL 主張，包括 Cristiano Ronaldo 和 Petar Sucic 在內的 17 個世界盃進球，在該修訂解釋下將被認定為有效。執行副總裁 Costa Smyrniotis 將此次試行描述為一項協作努力，旨在增進足球運動的進攻流暢度與娛樂價值。
Conclusion
The tournament currently utilizes traditional tie-breaking and offside rules, while the CPL's trial of the 'daylight' rule provides a potential basis for future FIFA regulatory adjustments.
目前賽事使用傳統的打破僵局與越位規則，而 CPL 對「日光」規則的試行，為未來 FIFA 的監管調整提供了潛在基礎。
Vocabulary Learning
The Architecture of Nominalization & Institutional Register
To bridge the gap from B2 to C2, a learner must move beyond describing actions and begin constructing concepts. The provided text is a masterclass in Nominalization—the process of turning verbs (actions) and adjectives (qualities) into nouns to create a dense, objective, and authoritative tone.
◈ The Mechanism of Conceptual Density
Observe how the text avoids simple subject-verb-object patterns. Instead of saying "The rules mandate that teams must find a winner," the text utilizes:
"The transition to the knockout stage mandates a definitive outcome..."
C2 Insight: By turning "transitioning" into "The transition," the writer transforms a process into an entity. This allows the sentence to treat a complex event as a single noun, enabling the use of high-level predicates like mandates.
◈ Lexical Precision: The "Institutional" Verb
C2 mastery requires the abandonment of generic verbs (e.g., show, give, do) in favor of verbs that signal specific professional or regulatory contexts.
| B2/C1 Approach | C2 Institutional Equivalent | Contextual Nuance |
|---|---|---|
| The rules say... | Regulations stipulate... | Legal/Formal requirement |
| This is because... | ...have been attributed to... | Causal analysis |
| The trial is... | ...characterized as a collaborative effort... | Diplomatic/Strategic framing |
◈ Syntactic Compression via Participal Phrases
Note the use of "...necessitating the application of tie-breaking protocols."
Instead of starting a new sentence ("This necessitates..."), the author uses a present participle clause to link a result directly to the preceding cause. This creates a "fluidity of logic" where the cause and effect are fused into one sophisticated architectural unit.
◈ The "Precision Pivot": From Concrete to Abstract
Contrast these two conceptualizations of the same event:
- Concrete (B2): Players failed because they didn't have enough experience.
- Abstract (C2): Instances of failure have been attributed to a lack of professional experience.
The Shift: The C2 version removes the human subject ("Players") and replaces it with a category ("Instances of failure"). This creates an affective distance, which is the hallmark of academic and regulatory writing. It shifts the focus from who failed to the phenomenon of failure itself.