The Canadian Premier League will become the first professional soccer competition to trial Arsène Wenger’s revised offside rule during the 2026 season.
Under the new interpretation, an attacker is onside if any part of their body eligible to score is level with or behind the second-to-last defender-provided there is clear "daylight" between them and the opponent.
"This is an important pilot," said Wenger, FIFA’s Chief of Global Football Development. "Testing this in a professional league will reveal its impact on clarity, flow, and attacking intent."
FIFA will oversee the research alongside Canada Soccer, training officials and clubs. The trial is part of a broader initiative to modernize officiating, including the implementation of Football Video Support to reduce time-wasting.
"This positions the CPL at the forefront of innovation in global football," said Commissioner James Johnson.