ZURICH, Dec 9: FIFA says it will include three-minute hydration breaks in each half of every game at next year’s World Cup, not just those played in hot weather.
The referee will stop the game 22 minutes into each half for players to take drinks, regardless of the temperature, the host country — the United States, Canada or Mexico — or whether the stadium has a roof and air conditioning.
The change may also be a hit with broadcasters, since it makes the game schedule more predictable.
FIFA said it was first announced when the governing body’s chief tournament officer for the 2026 World Cup, Manolo Zubiria, attended a meeting with broadcasters.
He indicated that referees may have some flexibility if there’s a stoppage shortly before the 22-minute mark for an injury.
“This will be addressed on the spot with the referee,” Zubiria said.
FIFA said the move is a “streamlined and simplified version” of an earlier practice of having breaks after 30 minutes over a certain temperature threshold, once set at 32 degrees Celsius (89.6 Fahrenheit) on the wet bulb global temperature system.
The change comes after heat and humidity affected players during some games at this year’s Club World Cup in the U.S.
At that tournament, FIFA reacted by lowering the threshold for cooling or water breaks and also placing more water and towels around the edge of the field.
Heat has long been an issue at major soccer tournaments.
Amid concerns ahead of the 2014 World Cup, a Brazilian court ordered FIFA to make its recommended breaks mandatory or face fines.
As the curtain begins to rise on the 2026 World Cup, FIFA’s decision to mandate three-minute hydration breaks in every half stands as a telling reflection of how the modern game continues to evolve in response to both sporting and environmental realities.
What began years ago as an emergency measure in oppressive heat has now been reshaped into a uniform regulation, signalling a shift in priorities that stretches beyond mere player comfort.
However on the other hand, in an era where tournaments span vast geographies, unpredictable weather systems and contrasting stadium infrastructures, the need for consistency has grown louder, and this move offers a rare balance between player welfare, match integrity and logistical ease.
It also acknowledges, in a quiet way, the lessons learned from recent competitions — from the sweltering conditions faced by players at the Club World Cup in the U.S. to earlier flashpoints like Brazil in 2014, where legal intervention forced the governing body’s hand.
Now, by installing a fixed schedule that doesn’t hinge on temperature readings or last-minute assessments, FIFA aims to remove the grey areas that once created uncertainty for teams, officials and even broadcasters, who have long pushed for greater predictability in match timings.
More importantly, the new rule underscores football’s increasing acceptance of the demands placed on elite athletes in a relentlessly expanding calendar.
Hydration breaks may appear minor on the surface, yet they offer a crucial pause in a high-intensity sport where margins are razor-thin and player fatigue can shape entire tournaments. (Agencies)
