World Cup Rules

Certain World Cup rules differ from other soccer rules, as it's a different tournament that happens only once every four years. So FIFA, the governing body over the international tournament that grabs everyone's attention over more then a month of time, makes specific World Cup rules so that players don't do certain things on the field in regards to penalties and games are "fairly" decided. While they still haven't instituted instant replay, which was of major issue in the 2010 World Cup games, there are a number of World Cup rules that players, coaches and fans alike should know about when the next World Cup comes around.

1. Deciding Ties. The games in the World Cup used to be decided by a Golden or Silver goal, which ended the game in extra time on the first score. That is no longer the case in World Cup games, as if the game is tied after 90 minutes of regulation, two fifteen minute extra periods will be played to see who can score the most goals in that period of time. If the game is still not settled after 120 minutes of playing, the game will be decided on penalty shoot-outs.
2. Squad Size. Teams that play in the World Cup can only be 23 players and must be listed and submitted to FIFA by a specific date before the World Cup. Once that list has been approved by FIFA, coaches can have a list of alternates that they can call up a day before a match if a player on their team is injured.
3. Yellow and Red Card Suspensions. Yellow and red cards apply as always, with a player being kicked out of the game for receiving a red card and receiving a red card after receiving two yellow cards. However, a new rule this year will make a player miss a game on suspension if they receive two yellow cards over the course of the tournament, up until the semi-finals. However, in the quarterfinals, all yellow cards and red cards are forgiven and players can play with a clean slate.
4. Tournament Structure. The first part of the World Cup tournament consists of four teams in eight different division, lettered A through H. The top two teams will go on to the round of sixteen, after all teams play each other once. Wins score each team three points, ties one point and losses no points. If teams in a division are tied at the end of the tournament round, the team who moves on will be decided based upon goals scored against goals allowed, or goal differential.