Overview
- Referees will halt play 22 minutes into each half for a three-minute hydration break in every match, with the lost time added to stoppage time rather than stopping the game clock.
- The expanded 48-team tournament runs June 11–July 19 across the United States, Canada and Mexico, with Mexico vs. South Africa opening in Mexico City and the United States and Canada debuting the next day in Los Angeles and Toronto.
- The official draw locked in 12 groups and city-by-city schedules, including marquee fixtures in Miami, Dallas and Houston and a published slate for Canada featuring Toronto and Vancouver.
- Coaches and analysts highlight travel strain and varied conditions across venues—from high-altitude Estadio Azteca to hotter Monterrey—with Spain’s Luis de la Fuente warning of tight turnarounds and long flights between group games.
- Analyses note a tilt toward Eastern and Central time zones for top group-stage matchups, and FIFA plans three opening ceremonies as critics question potential new in-game advertising opportunities created by the mandated breaks.