How hydration breaks are reshaping matches at the 2026 FIFA World Cup
The Times Of India | June 24, 2026 12:39 AM CST
New Delhi: In December last year, with the 2026 FIFA World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada six months away, FIFA announced hydrations breaks in both halves of the game. Similar breaks were introduced in 2014 and then selectively taken four years ago in Qatar where the temperatures reached 30 degrees Celsius.
“For every game, no matter where the games are played, no matter if there’s a roof, (or) temperature-wise, there will be a three-minute hydration break. It will be three minutes from whistle to whistle in both halves,” said Manolo Zubiria, Chief Tournament Officer, USA, for the 2026 FIFA World Cup .
As was made clear by FIFA, the breaks were to be taken whether the outside temperature was 15 degrees or 35-40 degrees Celsius. After the first 24 matches, two games were categorised with 'severe heat' as per the wet-bulb index : Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay (in Miami) and Sweden vs Tunisia (in Monterrey). Other games that witnessed searing heat were: Germany vs Curacao (in Houston), Portugal vs Congo (in Houston), the Netherlands vs Japan (in Dallas) and England vs Croatia (in Dallas).
Now referees promptly halt play in the 22nd minute of both halves regardless of the weather, stadium type (roofed or not), conditions. The referee blows the whistle and the players head to the sidelines for water.
While seemingly introduced as a player welfare measure, the holes are evident and the field is divided.
He also argued that three minutes was a long period for the game to be disrupted.
"Three minutes in the footballing world is a whole lot of time. It's literally 7 to 8 attacks can happen in three minutes.
"Why we love this sport is because when you're tired, when you're that exhausted, your brain is over fatigued. Your heart rate is at 170-180. The game opens up because you make some wrong decisions. And that's what excites the people. Now you take that away.
"After 22-23 minutes you have a break of three minutes. You can prepare yourself again. Move the tactics. And again you start playing. So you keep on nullifying each other."
“For every game, no matter where the games are played, no matter if there’s a roof, (or) temperature-wise, there will be a three-minute hydration break. It will be three minutes from whistle to whistle in both halves,” said Manolo Zubiria, Chief Tournament Officer, USA, for the 2026 FIFA World Cup .
As was made clear by FIFA, the breaks were to be taken whether the outside temperature was 15 degrees or 35-40 degrees Celsius. After the first 24 matches, two games were categorised with 'severe heat' as per the wet-bulb index : Saudi Arabia vs Uruguay (in Miami) and Sweden vs Tunisia (in Monterrey). Other games that witnessed searing heat were: Germany vs Curacao (in Houston), Portugal vs Congo (in Houston), the Netherlands vs Japan (in Dallas) and England vs Croatia (in Dallas).
Now referees promptly halt play in the 22nd minute of both halves regardless of the weather, stadium type (roofed or not), conditions. The referee blows the whistle and the players head to the sidelines for water.
While seemingly introduced as a player welfare measure, the holes are evident and the field is divided.
He also argued that three minutes was a long period for the game to be disrupted.
"Three minutes in the footballing world is a whole lot of time. It's literally 7 to 8 attacks can happen in three minutes.
"Why we love this sport is because when you're tired, when you're that exhausted, your brain is over fatigued. Your heart rate is at 170-180. The game opens up because you make some wrong decisions. And that's what excites the people. Now you take that away.
"After 22-23 minutes you have a break of three minutes. You can prepare yourself again. Move the tactics. And again you start playing. So you keep on nullifying each other."
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