Tournament Rules & Game Format – World Cup 2026

Age Division Eligibility

A player’s tournament age is determined by the player’s age on December 31 of the tournament year.

70+ Division

Male players must have a tournament age of 70 years or older and female players must have a tournament age of 60 years or older.

Teams are allowed to have a maximum of 2 underage players: male players who have a tournament age of 69 years or female players who have a tournament age of 59 years. Both of these underage players may be on the field at any time.

75+ Division

Male players must have a tournament age of 75 years or older and female players must have a tournament age of 65 years or older.

Teams are allowed to have an underage goalie: a male goalie who has a tournament age of 73 years or older or a female goalie who has a tournament age of 63 years or older. Underage goalies can only play as a goalie.

80+ Division

Male players must have a tournament age of 80 years or older and female players must have a tournament age of 70 years or older.

Teams are allowed to have a maximum of 4 underage players: any combination of male players who have a tournament age of 78 or 79 years, female players who have a tournament age of 68 or 69 years, a male goalie who has a tournament age of 77 years, or a female goalie who has a tournament age of 67 years. A maximum of 2 of these underage players may be on the field at any time and a 77 year old male goalie or 67 year old female goalie can only play as a goalie.

In addition to the 4 underage field players, teams are allowed to have an underage male goalie who has a tournament age of 77 years or older or a female goalie who has a tournament age of 67 years or older. An underage goalie can only play as a goalie and does not count as one of the 2 underage field players allowed on the field.

Rosters

The Host Committee will create a roster form and supply it to each team manager/coach who registers a team. The roster form must collect at a minimum the name of the team, the name of the team manager/coach, and each player’s uniform number, name, and date of birth. A sample roster form is included at the end of this document.

Teams in the 70+ Division will play 11 v 11 with a maximum roster size of 24 players.

Teams in the 75+ Division will play 8 v 8 with a maximum roster size of 16 players.

Teams in the 80+ Division will play 8 v 8 with a maximum roster size of 16 players.

Each player must submit to their coach/manager a photocopy of their passport page with the player’s picture and date of birth visible (passport # may be covered) to attach to each roster submitted. If some host country players do not have a passport, the Host Committee may designate an alternate government issued identification document or card as long as the alternate document or card contains the player’s picture and date of birth.

The Host Committee may, if desired, require each player to sign a liability release waiving the player’s right to sue the Host Committee for injuries sustained during the tournament. The Host Committee is responsible for creating the release form.

Rosters must be submitted to the Host Committee by a date set by the Host Committee. Rosters may be revised up until one day prior to the first day of tournament play. The Host Committee is responsible for confirming all players meet the tournament age requirements.

A player can be listed on multiple rosters as long as the player is on a single roster in each age division.

Once tournament play starts, a player may not switch rosters.

The Host Committee is responsible for providing each team manager with 8 copies of the officially approved team roster. The team manager is responsible for presenting one of the approved roster copies to the referee before each game.

The Host Committee may instruct the referees to make several random checks of player ID’s before each game. Managers can ask the referee to check a player’s ID before the game, during halftime, or immediately following the game if there is any question about the player’s age or identity.

Field and Goal Size

The Host Committee is responsible for selecting and arranging for the use of tournament fields.

Fields for the 70+ division will be regular FIFA fields (approximately 105m x 68m) with standard goals of 7.32m x 2.44m.

Fields for the 75+ Division will be half sized fields (approximately 65m x 50m) with a penalty area of 25m x 8m. The goals will be 5m x 2m.

Fields for the 80+ division will be half sized fields (approximately 65m x 50m) with a penalty area of 25m x 8m. The goals will be 5m x 2m.

Uniforms

All teams must have matching home uniforms with unique numbers.

All teams must bring an alternate jersey of a different color. The alternate jersey does not need to be numbered. If alternate jerseys are not available, teams may use alternate colored bibs/vests to be worn over the players’ home uniform.

If jersey colors are similar, the team listed first on the schedule is required to change to their alternate jersey color.

Shin guards are required.

Jewelry is not allowed except for flat bands covered with tape.

Soft visors or sport glasses are allowed.

Game Balls, Starting Play and Forfeits

The Host Committee shall provide game balls for all tournament games.

Teams must be ready to compete at the assigned field and assigned time. There will be a 5 minute grace period timed by the referee.

Minimum Players

Teams in the 70+ Division must have a minimum of 7 players available to play to start a game.

Teams in the 75+ Division must have a minimum of 5 players available to play to start a game.

Teams in the 80+ Division must have a minimum of 5 players available to play to start a game.

Teams with less than the minimum number of players available to play will forfeit the game at the end of the 5 minute grace period. The score shall be recorded as 0 – 3 against the forfeiting team. If both teams do not have the minimum number of players, then the score will be recorded as a 0 – 0 tie.

Teams that refuse to start a game or refuse to finish a game will forfeit that game. The score shall be recorded as 0 – 3 against the forfeiting team.

Length and Number of Games, Seeding of Teams

Games will consist of two 30 minute halves with a 5 minute half time break. In the event of scheduling issues and/or field constraints, the Host Committee may, subject to the Management Committee approval, shorten the halves by a maximum of 10 minutes.

The Host Committee will provide a proposed tournament schedule that has all 70+ and 75+ Division teams playing at least 7 games and 80+ Division teams playing at least 5 games during the tournament.

The Management Committee strongly recommends that the tournament have 4 days of play with a rest day between playing days 2 and 3.

Unless it is not possible due to scheduling or field constraints, teams should be scheduled to have one morning game and one afternoon game on the first 3 game days of the tournament.

During group stage play, teams from the same country shall be placed in separate groups as much as possible. For countries that have multiple teams entered, the Host Committee will provide seeding approved by the Management Committee to ensure the best distribution of the teams.

The Management Committee will have final approval of the Host Committee's proposed game schedule.

The Host Committee has the authority to delay game start times, cancel games or otherwise adjust the schedule in case of inclement weather. Cancelled games may or may not be made up at a later time depending on the availability of fields.

Slide Tackling and Charging the Keeper

Slide tackling is not allowed when in contact with an opponent. Violation will result in a free kick.

The goalkeeper may slide within the penalty area to stop the ball or secure the ball if the goalkeeper does not slide feet-first in a dangerous manner. Violation will result in a penalty kick.

Charging the goalkeeper is not permitted at any time when the goalkeeper is within his own penalty area. The rule applies regardless of whether the goalkeeper has or does not have possession of the ball. Violation will result in a free kick.

No bodily contact may be made with the goalkeeper if it can be avoided. Violation of this rule will be considered dangerous play.

Offsides and Officials

The Host Committee is responsible for arranging for game officials for tournament games.

Games in the 70+ division shall have 1 center referee with the addition of 2 AR’s if possible. AR’s are required for the Bronze and Gold Medal games. Offsides will be enforced in all 70+ division games.

Games in the 75+ division shall have 2 referees assigned using the dual referee system. There is no offside in 75+ division games.

Games in the 80+ division shall have 2 referees assigned using the dual referee system. There is no offside in 80+ division games.

Cautions, Yellow Cards, and Red Cards

A player receiving a yellow card must leave the field of play for at least 10 minutes. A substitution is permitted while the player is off the field.

A second yellow card given to the same player within the same game will result in that player receiving a red card.

A player receiving a red card for any reason is ejected from the game. No substitution is permitted for the ejected player. The ejected player is also suspended and cannot play in the team’s next game.

Additional penalties may be assessed by the Management Committee.

Group Play Results

During group play teams will be awarded points based on the results of the game.

• 3 points for a win

• 1 point for a tie

• 0 points for a loss

Standings at the end of group play will be determined in order by:

Phase 1

1. Greatest number of points obtained in all group matches.

2. Superior goal difference in all group matches.

3. Greatest number of goals scored in all group matches.

If two or more teams are equal on all three aspects of Phase 1 then the standings among those teams will be determined in order by:

Phase 2

4. Greatest number of points obtained in the group matches between the teams concerned (could be between two, three or even four teams).

5. Superior goal difference resulting from the group matches between the teams concerned.

6. Greatest number of goals scored in all group matches between the teams concerned.

7. Highest team conduct score determined by the number of yellow and red cards given to each team (team conduct score starts at 0 for all teams prior to the subtraction of points).

Yellow card: minus 1 point

Indirect red card (as a result of two yellow cards): minus 3 points

Direct red card: minus 4 points

Yellow card and direct red card: minus 5 points

8. Drawing of lots by the host tournament director.

Playoff Rounds and Finals

Playoff format will be determined by the number of teams in each division. The Management Committee strongly recommends having at least semi-final playoff games to determine which teams play in the final.

Playoff games ending in a tie will be determined by penalty kicks per FIFA rules beginning immediately after regulation play (no overtime periods).

FIFA Rules

FIFA rules will apply, except as modified by these Tournament Rules.

The Management Committee will decide any situations not covered by either FIFA rules or these Tournament Rules.

All in-game decisions by the referee (fouls, penalties, cautions, red cards, goals, etc.) are final and cannot be appealed.

All decisions by the Host Committee or Management Committee will be final. There will be no appeals or protests. These decisions include behavior (by a player, coach, fan/spectator, or referee) that is deemed to be detrimental to the tournament or its participants.

Persons responsible for such detrimental behavior may be expelled from the tournament site, and possibly prohibited from attending future tournaments, depending on the severity of the infraction(s).