The first significant VAR review for the 2026 World Cup has happened too soon. And it's not the last time. USMNT defender Tim Reim was shown a yellow card early in the second half of the match against Paraguay. Reem was shown a card for a tackle on Paraguay's Miguel Almiron. However, Rim never touched Almiron's feet. After a video check, referee Danny McKellie was warned by video referee Carlos del Cerro Grande about Almiron's possible dive. He got the two players together and went to the monitor on the side of the pitch and confirmed that Almiron had fallen with a dive after the rim tackle.
The replay review process has been expanded to the 48-team tournament this year. While many soccer fans are familiar with the use of VAR, many lay fans are still unfamiliar with this relatively new replay process in soccer. If you're one of them, you need to know about trying to get the big decisions in the game right.
What is Video Assistant Referee? It was first trialled in professional football in the Dutch Eredivisie in 2012. The video review process has expanded over the past 14 seasons and began its official application in FIFA competitions at the 2016 Club World Cup. The 2026 World Cup is the third World Cup where VAR is implemented. Simply put, a replay official is appointed before every match and monitors all 'reviewable' decisions made by referees on the field.
What can VAR review? VAR can assess the position of a foul called by the referee on the field, review all fouls for possible 'acts of violence', determine whether a handball has occurred, or assess whether the referee has called a foul on the wrong player. In 2026, replays may incorrectly award goal kicks instead of corner kicks. All offside calls - called or not - come under an automatic review process that is slightly different from the VAR process.
