The 2026 World Cup is happening now. The United States is playing very well and they have already moved to the next stage. Many football fans are talking about a new topic. They are talking about VAR, which is the video technology that referees use to check decisions.
Some people think VAR stops the game too much. However, the 2026 World Cup feels fast and exciting. The data shows something interesting. In the English Premier League last season, referees used VAR 0.29 times per game. In this World Cup, they use it 0.33 times per game. This means the World Cup uses technology more often than the English league.
Why does the game feel faster if they use VAR more? The answer is the number of fouls. In the 2018 World Cup, there were 27 fouls per game. In the 2022 World Cup, there were 25 fouls. In this 2026 tournament, there are only 21.7 fouls per game. Referees are letting players play more and whistle less. They are also giving fewer yellow cards. In this tournament, there are only 2.4 cautions per game.
Referees want the game to be fluid and fun. They use VAR to fix big mistakes, but they do not stop the game for small things. This helps the players keep their speed. Even though there is more technology, the football is still moving quickly. Fans are enjoying the fast action in this World Cup.