The league is the first senior competition in the world to trial a new version of the
offside rule, where offside is only called when there is "clear daylight" between the attacker and the last defender, following proposals from
FIFA Chief of Global Football Development,
Arsène Wenger. The proposed trial was approved by the
IFAB in February 2026. The league is also implementing
football video support (FVS). To enhance match tempo and reduce time wasting, rules changes such as a five-second countdown on throw-ins and goal kicks, ten seconds to leave the field for a substitution, and a one minute holdout period to return from an injury, are also being implemented. The playoff structure was reduced from five to four teams, returning to the format used in 2022.
Roster rule changes The CPL's total player compensation budget was increased by $33,500 to a total of $1,217,500 (or $1,337,500 for teams maximizing the U-21 salary incentive). A U-22 salary incentive known as the "U-21 Graduate Provision" was introduced this season. Players who are in their age-22 season and have spent at least two years with their club will have only 80% of their salary count towards the compensation budget. Beginning in 2026, teams can now designate a third U-18 domestic player under the Exceptional Young Talent (EYT) rule. Players on EYT contracts do not occupy a roster spot or count towards the player compensation budget. == Teams ==