On Friday, USMNT defender Tim Ream received a yellow card after a VAR review for a dive by Paraguay's Miguel Almirón. referee Danny Makkelie consulted the pitchside monitor and confirmed the dive, allowing the card to stand, as the source reported . This moment, while minor in the larger tournament , encapsulates the expanded role of video assistant referees (VAR) at the 2026 World Cup, which now includes new reviewable categories and increased scrutiny across a 48-team field.

Tim Ream's yellow card: How a dive became a VAR test for the 2026 World Cup

The incident occurred early in the second half when Ream tackled Almirón. The referee initially flagged the play for a potential dive by the Paraguayan attacker, according to the source. After reviewing the footage at the pitchside monitor, Makkelie upheld the yellow card, confirming the dive. This decision, though low-stakes, shows how VAR now intervenes not only for goals and penalties but also for simulation—a category that remains highly subjective. The source notes that VAR was first trialed in the Dutch Eredivisie in 2012 and adopted by FIFA at the 2016 Club World Cup, making this the third World Cup to feature the technology.

From 2012 to 2026: The evolution of VAR from Eredivisie to 48-team tournament

The source explains that VAR originally monitored four key situations: goals, penalty decisions, direct red cards,and mistaken identity. For the 2026 World Cup, FIFA has expanded reviewable categories to include corner kick awards (e.g., correcting a goal kick if the wrong call was made) and second yellow cards that lead to red cards. Additionally, semi-automatic offside technology uses stadium cameras to instantly flag potential offside positions, ensuring goals are confirmed before kickoff. This evolution from a 32-team tournament in 2018 to a 48-team edition in 2026 places enormous demands on the system, as the source notes that every big call can sway a match in a more crowded field.

The handball rule's 'unnatural position' problem:A flashpoint that won't go away

Despite its benefits, VAR remains controversial due to the subjective nature of 'clear and obvious' errors. The source highlights the handball rule as a particular flashpoint: a handball occurs when a player deliberately touches the ball with hand or arm, or when the arm is in an unnatural position making the body unfairly larger. However, interpreting 'unnatural position' and intent often varies among officials, especially with slow-motion replays that can exaggerate contact. This subjectivity has led to prolonged reviews and game-changing penalty decisions. The Ream-Almirón incident, while a dive call rather than a handball, demonstrates how the same interpretive challenges persist across all VAR-reviewed situations. The source notes that fans and players expect further debates during the World Cup as every big call can sway a match.

The unanswered question of consistency across 48 teams

One open question the source does not explicitly address is how VAR consistency will be maintained when the tournament features 48 teams—many from regions with less experience with the technology. The expanded review categories and semi-automatic offside add layers of complexity, but the human element of the referee's 'clear and obvious' judgment remains the largest variable.. Also left out: detailed statistics on review times or error rates from previous tournaments, which could help gauge whether the system is actually improving accuracy. As the source only reports on the rules and a single incident, it does not provide data on how often reviews overturn decisions or how long they take—factors that directly affect the flow of the sport.