The changes target player behaviour before the referee needs to punish it. Goalkeepers and outfield players have five seconds for goal kicks and throw-ins, while substitutions must be completed within 10 seconds. Players receiving treatment are also expected to leave the field for one minute.
That approach has reduced the need for blanket additions. The old practice of automatically adding 30 seconds for every substitution has lost influence because the exchange is expected to happen inside the allotted time.
The result is a different kind of time management: more urgency during stoppages, rather than longer matches at the end.
The 1-1 draw between the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Portugal offered a practical test of the new limits. The report says one delayed goal kick was turned into a corner, while no substitute was prevented from entering because of a slow exit.
The wider figures are more nuanced. Ball-in-play time reportedly fell from 58:08 in Qatar to 57:22 at this tournament, but the share of the match spent with the ball active rose to 59.38%, compared with 56.86% in 2022 and 56.25% in 2018.
That distinction matters. The matches may be shorter overall without losing their proportion of meaningful action.
The rules will face greater scrutiny as knockout pressure rises. Tactical delays, goalkeeper stoppages and lengthy medical checks become more tempting when a team is protecting a lead.
For now, the early signal is clear: is trying to make players respect the clock throughout the match, not simply compensate for lost time afterwards. The next rounds will show whether that balance survives higher stakes and tighter margins.