New Delhi: In December last year, from 2026 FIFA World Cup in the US, Mexico and Canada in six months, FIFA announced hydration breaks in both halves of matches. Similar breaks were introduced in 2014 and then selectively used four years ago in Qatar where 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. There will be three minutes from whistle to whistle in both halves,” said Manolo Zubiria, chief tournament manager, USA, for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. As announced by FIFA, the breaks were made regardless of whether the outside temperature was 15 degrees or 35-40 degrees Celsius. After the first 24 matches, two matches were categorized as ‘extremely hot’ according to the wet bulb index: Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay (in Miami) and Sweden vs. Tunisia (in Monterrey). Other matches that witnessed heat were: Germany vs. Curacao (in Houston), Portugal vs. Congo (in Houston), Netherlands vs. Japan (in Dallas) and England vs. Croatia (in Dallas).Now the referees immediately stop the game in the 22nd minute of both halves, regardless of the weather, the type of stadium (covered or not), the conditions. The referee blew his whistle and the players went to the sidelines to get water.Although ostensibly introduced as a player welfare measure, the holes are obvious and the field is divided. USA coach Mauricio Pochettino said: “I don’t like it. I only like it when the conditions are extreme. But when the conditions are good, it’s unnecessary.”England coach Thomas Tuche is also not a fan. “I think it interrupts and changes the identity of the football game much more than I thought. “I had hydration breaks before when it was very, very hot and necessary, but they were shorter,” Tuchel said.“They were shorter and they were only in a few games. In the interest of fairness here, it’s done every game now for every team. It breaks the game almost in four quarters. And I think it changes the characteristics of the game more than I thought.”
Uruguay head coach Marcelo Bielsa talks to his players during a hydration break in their World Cup Group H match against Saudi Arabia in Miami Gardens, Florida. (AP)
Uruguayan Marcelo Bielsa echoed Tuchel’s thoughts on breaking the game. “This culture change adds nothing and takes away a lot. I will only say that before this decision football had one characteristic, now it has another,” said Bielsa.“As a player, it can work both ways,” said Belgium’s Youri Tielemans. “In some cities, it’s not so hot and maybe we shouldn’t be doing it. But at the end of the day, if you’re doing it in some cities, you should be doing it for everybody.”
Illustration of hydration breaks to be followed in all FIFA World Cup 2026 matches (Illustration by TimesofIndia.com)
French striker Kylian Mbappe remained neutral. “Hydration breaks? Don’t ask us players for our opinion, we’re very reactionary,” he said. “If tomorrow we dominate in the 25th minute and there is a break for hydration, we will be angry.”“Because it breaks our rhythm, but if the weather is hot or if we dominate, I will be happy.”Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro attacked FIFA for the advertising intrusion, which is a hydration break.“It’s a commercial break, not a hydration break,” he said. – The game is getting out of control.7 hours, 30 minutes, 40 seconds more ad time
Hydration break signs are displayed during the World Cup Group F match between the Netherlands and Japan in Arlington, Texas. (AP)
During hydration breaks, broadcasters are allowed to stop advertising 20 seconds after the referee blows the whistle and must return 30 seconds before resuming.That’s an advertising opportunity of four minutes and 20 seconds per game, or seven hours, 30 minutes and 40 seconds over a 104-game tournament.Fox Corporation, which reportedly paid nearly $500 million to broadcast the World Cup in the US, violated these guidelines during the tournament’s opening match between Mexico and South Africa.
How hydration breaks are more than a measure of player well-being. (Illustration TimesofIndia.com/NotebookLM)
Fox overshot its commercials by 40 seconds and missed going back to live footage when the game started. However, the broadcaster escaped punishment.The US alone could earn more than $250 million (Rs 2367.91 crore) in advertising revenue during hydration breaks. Globally, it could reach one billion dollars, experts say.
Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente talks to the players during a hydration break in the World Cup Group H match between Spain and Cape Verde in Atlanta. (AP)
In India, the advertising inventory for a 10-second spot on Zee, the official broadcaster, is Rs 2.25 lakh to Rs 2.75 lakh. There are spots for pregame, postgame, halftime and these hydration breaks as well.BBC Sport reported that a 30-second spot on Fox Sports costs between $200,000 (Rs 1.89 crore) and $300,000 (Rs 2.84 crore). It can go up to $750,000 (Rs 7.10 crore) during the US matches and the final stages.Ads run around the world during these hydration breaks. India, Mexico, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, China, Japan, Australia, Gulf countries and sub-Saharan Africa all witnessed advertisements.
The US alone could earn over $250 million in advertising revenue during hydration breaks. Globally, it could reach a billion dollars
Experts
Some broadcasters have decided not to turn to ads. The BBC does not show ads in the UK; Spanish-language broadcaster Telemundo and Britain’s ITV also decided against the ad. However, ITV is also restricted by the national regulator.Fox Sports has also experimented with its approach. During the Mexico-South Korea match, the broadcaster used split screen live from the stadium and commercials. Elsewhere, they also ran full-screen ads.Managers use breaks to change strategy
Brazilian Vinicius Junior (7) celebrates a goal against Morocco. (AP Photo)
Brazil trailed Morocco 1-0 after a poor start. Six minutes after the hydration break, Vinicius Jr. turned his right foot and knocked the ball into the roof of the net. Individual brilliance, no doubt, but manager Carlo Ancelotti later admitted that the lack of hydration allowed him to change his approach.“You can explain the problem to the players,” the Italian coach said when asked how breaks can benefit teams. “[You can] make a tactical adjustment that can be very good.”Not just Brazil. Shortly after the break, Canada called Bosnia and Herzegovina’s lead in a 1-1 draw. Scotland scored shortly after the break in a 1-0 win against Haiti. Australia opened the scoring straight after the break in a 2-0 win against Turkey.
The 2026 World Cup is affected by matches due to hydration interruptions. (Illustration by TimesofIndia.com)
Unlike regular halftime breaks, managers can use hydration breaks to regroup and change strategy. What was a game of two halves became a game of four quarters.According to the statistical company Driblab, in the first 28 games, or 56 interruptions, there were 24 momentum changes after the restart. Four of the 10 interruptions led to reversals in the course of the game. And in another 20 breaks, the team that was dominant — like England against Croatia — started to sizzle after the first break. Spain, who were heroic until the stalemate at Cape Verde, were also tied after the second break.In all, 44 of the 56 stoppages after 28 matches — or 78.6% of cases — disrupted the momentum of the matches due to the stoppage.
France head coach Didier Deschamps talks to Kylian Mbappe (10) during a hydration break during their World Cup match against Iraq in Philadelphia. (AP)
Indian defender Sandesh Jhingan, who plays for FC Goa in the Indian Super League, suggested that it should be applied according to the conditions and even then tactical changes should not be discussed.“There should be a certain rule that only if the temperature is this high, then we will have a break, but a shorter break. And then the players are not allowed to come out to gather and the board with the tactics comes out. This should not be allowed,” Jhingan, an expert on Zee5, told TimesofIndia.com.“Maybe if the water cart comes quickly, like five yards downfield, you shouldn’t be allowed to leave the touchline.So everyone stays there on one side. Just water in, quick sip, boom, off you go. I think that would be the way forward.”He also argued that three minutes is a long time to stop play.“Three minutes in the football world is a very long time. That’s literally 7 to 8 attacks that can happen in three minutes.“Why we love this sport is because when you’re tired, when you’re so exhausted, your brain is overtired. Your heart rate is 170-180. The game opens up because you make some bad decisions. And that’s what excites people. Now take that away.“After 22-23 minutes you have a break of three minutes. You can prepare again. Move the tactics. And you start playing again. So you keep canceling yourself.”
