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FIFA Confirms 2026 World Cup Schedule and Mandates Mid-Half Hydration Breaks

Mandatory cooling pauses accompany a coast-to-coast fixture map that reflects heat concerns, long travel, time‑zone priorities.

Overview

  • FIFA released city-by-city kickoff times for all 104 matches running June 11 to July 19 across 16 venues in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
  • Every match will stop at the 22-minute mark of each half for a three-minute hydration break, with the time added to stoppage time to keep the game clock continuous.
  • Schedule analysis points to an East/Central time‑zone tilt in marquee group games, with Western host cities allocated fewer clashes involving top-ranked or former champion teams.
  • Coaches and player advocates are planning around heat, altitude and travel strain, with Mexico City’s high-altitude Azteca and Monterrey’s summer temperatures flagged as notable challenges.
  • FIFA will stage three opening ceremonies—in Mexico City, Toronto and Los Angeles—while six remaining places in the 48‑team field will be decided in playoff paths before March.