FLASH
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FIFA has announced that three-minute hydration breaks will be applied in every half of the game at next year's World Cup, not just in matches played in hot conditions.
The referee will stop play at the 22nd minute of each half so that players can drink water, regardless of the temperature, whether the host country is the United States, Canada or Mexico, or whether the stadium has a roof and ventilation system. The change is also expected to benefit broadcasters, making match schedules more predictable.
FIFA said the idea was first discussed after the executive director of the 2026 World Cup tournament, Manolo Zubiria, attended a meeting with broadcasters.
For many fans, coaches and players, this rule practically divides the game into four "quarters", similar to American leagues such as the NFL, NBA and WNBA, where the breaks between quarters are used for advertising.
Zubiria added that referees may have some flexibility if play is stopped shortly before the 22nd minute due to an injury.
"This will be assessed by the judge at the moment," he said.
According to FIFA, the decision is considered a “more simplified and practical version” of the previous rule, which provided for breaks after 30 minutes only when the temperature exceeded 32°C. The change comes after heat and humidity affected players in several matches at the Club World Cup in the United States this year. FIFA then lowered the threshold for refreshment breaks and placed more water and towels around the pitch.
Heat has long been a concern at major tournaments. Before the 2014 World Cup, a Brazilian court forced FIFA to implement breaks recommended by experts or face fines.
A report published in September by Football for the Future, Common Goal and Jupiter Intelligence showed that 10 of the 16 host cities of the 2026 World Cup in the US, Mexico and Canada are considered at very high risk for extreme heat conditions.
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