With the 2026 World Cup set to take place across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, FIFA is preparing for intense summer temperatures. To protect players and ensure their safety, the governing body has confirmed that three-minute β€œhydration breaks” will be added to every match, twice per half.

Matches to Feature New Mid-Half Hydration Stoppages

Regardless of weather conditions, referees will pause play 22 minutes into each half, meaning every match will effectively include four planned stoppages. FIFA said this rule was finalized after discussions with coaches and broadcasting partners.

The organization noted that similar breaks were tested earlier this year at the Club World Cup, but only when temperatures reached dangerous levels. In some games, play had to be halted when the heat soared to 38Β°C.

Benfica forward Andreas Schjelderup described the conditions by saying,

β€œπ‘° 𝒅𝒐𝒏’𝒕 π’•π’‰π’Šπ’π’Œ 𝑰’𝒗𝒆 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓 π’‘π’π’‚π’šπ’†π’… π’Šπ’ 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒕 π’π’Šπ’Œπ’† 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕… π’Šπ’• π’…π’Šπ’…π’β€™π’• 𝒇𝒆𝒆𝒍 π’‰π’†π’‚π’π’•π’‰π’š.”

Chelsea’s Enzo FernΓ‘ndez also shared his concern:

β€œπ‘Άπ’π’† π’…π’‚π’š 𝑰 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒂 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒅𝒂𝒄𝒉𝒆 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒕𝒐 π’π’Šπ’† π’…π’π’˜π’β€¦ π’‘π’π’‚π’šπ’Šπ’π’ˆ π’Šπ’ 𝒔𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒕 π’Šπ’” π’†π’™π’•π’“π’†π’Žπ’†π’π’š π’…π’‚π’π’ˆπ’†π’“π’π’–π’”.”

Player Safety Prioritized in Expanded Tournament

Taking players’ discomfort and medical advice into account, FIFA has made these six mandatory hydration breaks a requirement for the largest World Cup in history. The decision aims to reduce the risks of dehydration, heat exhaustion, and other heat-related injuries.

Also Read: FIFA President Issues Apology to Scaloni After Controversial β€˜Insult’

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here