The International Football Association Board (IFAB) has given the go-ahead to trials of video refereeing by next year "at the latest".
The two-year trial will allow referees to call upon video replays to assist with decisions on goals, red cards, penalties and mistaken identity.
New FIFA president Gianni Infantino said of the trial: "We have taken a really historic decision for football. IFAB and FIFA are now leading the debate and not stopping the debate.
"We have shown we are listening to football and applying common sense. We have to be cautious but we are taking concrete steps forwards to show a new era has started in FIFA and IFAB."
Law-making body IFAB, which comprises FIFA and the four British football associations, has also approved several other changes to the rules of the game following a "once in a generation" review.
In a revision of law 8, the ball is now allowed to move in any direction - rather than just forward - from kickoff, while a player who has been injured can now receive treatment on the field if a red or yellow card has been handed out to the person who brought them down.
IFAB also revealed that it will stage an experiment of allowing a fourth substitution in extra time, although has yet to decide which competition will house the trial.
