How hydration breaks will change 2026 FIFA World Cup matches Football News:

A screen announces a hydration break during the first half of an international friendly match between Bosnia and Panama in St. Louis: (AP)

New Delhi: In December last year, with 2026 FIFA World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada six months apart, FIFA announced a hydration break for both sides of the game. Similar breaks were introduced in 2014 and then selected four years ago in Qatar where temperatures reached 30 degrees Celsius.“For every game, wherever the games are played, even if there is a roof, (or) temperature-wise, there will be a three-minute hydration break. It will be three minutes from whistle to whistle in both parts,” said Manolo Zubiria, Chief Tournament Officer, USA, for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. As FIFA explains, breaks should be taken when the outside temperature is 15 degrees or 35-40 degrees Celsius. After the first 24 games, two games were categorized as ‘severe heat’ according to the wet-bulb index. Saudi Arabia vs. Uruguay (in Miami) and Sweden vs. Tunisia (in Monterrey). Other matches that witnessed blazing heat are: Germany vs. Curacao (in Houston), Portugal vs. Congo (in Houston), Netherlands vs. Japan (in Dallas) and England vs. Croatia (in Dallas).Now the referees quickly stop playing in the 22nd minute of both halves regardless of the weather, type of stadium (roofed or not), conditions. The referee blows the whistle and the players go to the sidelines for water.While seemingly introduced as a measure of player well-being, holes appear and the field is divided. USA coach Mauricio Pochettino said, “I don’t like it. I only like it when the conditions are bad. But when the conditions are good, it’s not necessary.”England manager Thomas Tuchel is not a fan either. “I think it’s disrupted and changed the identity of a football game more than I thought. I had hydration breaks before when it was very hot and needed, but they were shorter,” Tuchel said.“They’re shorter and they’re only in a few games. In the interest of fairness here, it’s now done in every game for every team. It breaks the game up almost into four quarters. And I think it changes the nature of the game more than I thought.”

Uruguay head coach Marcelo Bielsa speaks to his players during a hydration break during a World Cup Group H match against Saudi Arabia in Miami Gardens, Florida. (AP)

Uruguay’s Marcelo Bielsa echoed Tuchel’s thoughts on the breakdown of the game. “This change in culture does not add anything and takes away a lot. I can only say that before this decision, football had one character, 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 hot and maybe we shouldn’t do it. But at the end of the day, if you do it in some cities, you have to do it for everybody.”

An illustration of the hydration breaks that will be followed in all matches of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. (Illustration by TimesofIndia.com)

French striker Kylian Mbappe remains neutral. “Hydration breaks? Don’t ask us players for our opinion, we are too reactionary,” he said. “If tomorrow we dominate in the 25th minute and have a hydration break, we will be angry.”“Because our rhythm is broken, but if the weather is hot, or we are dominated, I will be happy.”Paraguay coach Gustavo Alfaro criticized FIFA for the commercial entry that is the hydration break.“It’s a commercial break, not a hydration break,” he said. “The game is out of hand.”7 hours, 30 minutes, 40 seconds of additional ad time

Signage for a hydration break is displayed during the World Cup Group F match between the Netherlands and Japan in Arlington, Texas. (AP)

During the hydration break, broadcasters are allowed to cut ads 20 seconds after the referee blows the whistle and must return 30 seconds before restarting.That’s an advertisement opportunity of four minutes and 20 seconds per game or seven hours, 30 minutes and 40 seconds over the entire 104-game tournament.Fox Corporation, which reportedly paid nearly $500 million to broadcast the World Cup in the USA, violated these guidelines during the tournament’s opening showing in Mexico and South Africa.

How hydration breaks down is more than just a measure of player well-being. (Illustration at TimesofIndia.com/NotebookLM)

Fox skipped their ads by 40 seconds and didn’t return to live footage once the game started. However, the broadcaster avoided the fine.The USA alone could account for over $250 million (Rs 2367.91 crore) in advertising revenue during the hydration break. Globally it could reach a billion dollars, say experts.

Spain head coach Luis de la Fuente speaks to the players during a hydration break during 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 reported at Rs 2.25 lakh to Rs 2.75 lakh. There are slots for pre-game, post-game, half-time and these hydration breaks as well.BBC Sport reported that a 30-second ad spot on Fox Sports costs between $200,000 (Rs 1.89 crore) and $300,000 (Rs 2.84 crore). It could go up to $750,000 (Rs 7.10 crore) during the USA matches and the final stage.Ads are shown 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 the ads.

Some broadcasters choose not to resort to ads. The BBC in the UK does not show ads; Spanish-language broadcaster Telemundo and the UK’s ITV also chose not to go with ads. However, ITV is also banned by the national regulator.Fox Sports is also experimenting with their approach. During Mexico’s game against South Korea, the broadcaster used a split screen of live stadium footage and advertisements. Elsewhere, they also show full-screen ads.Managers use breaks to change strategy

Vinicius Junior (7) of Brazil celebrates a goal against Morocco. (AP Photo)

Brazil trailed Morocco 1-0 after a poor start. Six minutes after the hydration break, Vinicius Jr. his right foot and grabbed the ball on the roof of the net. Individual brilliance, no doubt, but manager Carlo Ancelotti later acknowledged that the hydration break allowed him to change his approach.“You can define a problem with the players,” said the Italian manager when asked how breaks can benefit a team. “[You can] make a tactical change that can be very good. “Not just Brazil. Canada took the lead in Bosnia-Herzegovina after the break in a 1-1 draw. Scotland scored shortly after the break in a 1-0 win over Haiti. Australia opened the scoring after the break in a 2-0 win over Turkey.

Games affected in 2026 World Cup due to hydration breaks. (Illustration by TimesofIndia.com)

Unlike regular half-time breaks, managers can use hydration breaks to regroup and change strategy. What was a game of two halves, became one of four quarters.According to statistics firm Driblab, in the first 28 games, or 56 breaks, 24 momentum shifts were recorded after the start. Four of the 10 stops resulted in turning the tide of a game. And with 20 more breaks, the team that dominates — like England against Croatia — starts to trickle after the first break. Spain, who heroically held off Cape Verde in a stalemate, also lost after the second break.In total, 44 out of 56 breaks after 28 games – or 78.6% of the cases – interrupted the momentum of the games because of the break.

France head coach Didier Deschamps talks to Kylian Mbappe (10) during a hydration break during the 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 tactical changes should not be discussed.“There should be a certain rule that if the temperature is so much, then we have a break but a shorter break. And then the players are not allowed to come out to group and the tactics board comes out. That will not be allowed,” Jhingan, who is an expert on Zee5, told TimesofIndia.com.“Maybe there’s a trolley of water coming in right away, like five yards down the field, you shouldn’t be allowed to leave the touchline.So everyone stayed there on one side. Only water goes in, quick sip, boom, off you go. I think that is the way forward. “He also argued that three minutes was a long period to interrupt the game.“Three minutes in the world of football is a long time. Literally 7 to 8 attacks can happen in three minutes.“Why we love this sport is because when you’re tired, when you’re tired, your brain is too tired. Your heart rate is at 170-180. The game opens up because you make bad decisions. And that’s what excites people. Now you take that away.“After 22-23 minutes you have a break of three minutes. You can prepare yourself again. Switch tactics. And again you start playing. So you continue to eliminate each other.”