Overview
- Each pause will last three minutes from whistle to whistle, according to FIFA official Manolo Zubiria.
- FIFA presented the policy as a player-welfare measure for the tournament hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico.
- At the 2025 Club World Cup in the United States, similar breaks were used only in extreme heat, with some matches exceeding 100°F and players reporting dizziness.
- The decision followed consultation with coaches and broadcasters and was announced at a World Broadcaster Meeting in Washington, D.C.
- The fixed pauses create a four-quarter rhythm that offers teams tactical coaching windows and, per media analysis, predictable slots for television commercials.