Wenger’s ‘Daylight’ Offside Rule Scheduled For Initial Trial In Canadian Premier League
Canadian Premier League will trial Wenger’s daylight offside rule, with the goal of enhancing attacking play and improving the flow of matches.
The Canadian Premier League is set to be the inaugural professional competition to test a modified offside rule suggested by Arsène Wenger in the 2026 season.
The league announced on Tuesday that the alternative interpretation, commonly known as the “daylight” rule, aims to promote attacking football and improve the pace of matches.
According to the proposed change, an attacking player will be considered offside only if there is a clear gap, or “daylight,” between the attacker and the defender. A player is considered onside if any part of their body that can legally score is in line with or behind the second-to-last defender.
“This is a significant pilot,” Wenger stated.
“Testing this new interpretation in a professional competition will enhance our understanding of its impact, particularly regarding clarity, game flow, and the promotion of attacking play.”
The CPL announced that the trial will take place in partnership with FIFA, which will manage the research and evaluation processes while collaborating with Canada Soccer to prepare officials, players, and clubs.
“This initiative aims to place the Canadian Premier League at the leading edge of innovation and to make a significant contribution to the global development of the game,” stated James Johnson.
The league will implement FIFA-designed and International Football Association Board-approved measures alongside the offside experiment, including football video support, to minimize time-wasting and enhance match efficiency.
