Overview
- FIFA has imposed two three-minute hydration breaks in every match of the 2026 World Cup, applied regardless of venue temperature and enforced as part of the competition rules.
- Several high-profile figures criticized the rule as disruptive or commercial, with Virgil van Dijk, Mauricio Pochettino, Didier Deschamps and Jürgen Klopp saying the pauses harm momentum or serve broadcasters more than players.
- Other coaches and players defended the breaks for player recovery and tactical use, with Rudi Garcia calling them “coaching breaks” and some national-team players saying they improved performance in hot, humid conditions.
- Broadcasters have treated the pauses differently: some networks are selling the short slots to advertisers, Telemundo has refused to run ads in them, and the BBC is legally unable to air commercials during those minutes.
- Hydration breaks were used ad hoc for extreme heat from 2014, but FIFA’s December rule made them mandatory for every match, a change that raises questions about the sport’s commercialization and how future tournaments will handle player welfare and broadcast rights.