FIFA announced that they would be used Drinking breaks of three minutes in each half of all games in the World Cup 2026but not just with the challenges that take place in extreme climate zones.
The referee stops play after 22 minutes of each half to allow players to drink, regardless of the temperature, the host country (United States, Canada or Mexico), or whether the stadium has a roof and air conditioning.
The change could also be well received by television networks, as this break makes the schedule more predictable and could even include a new commercial. FIFA, soccer’s top body chaired by Gianni Infantino, said referees could have some flexibility if there was a stoppage shortly before the 22-minute mark due to injury or other game action. “This is being discussed with the referee at the moment,” said Manolo Zubiria, FIFA’s director of tournaments (USA), during the meeting with global broadcasters in Washington, the city where the group draw took place last Friday.
FIFA reported that the measure was a “simplified and optimized version” of a previous practice of taking breaks after 30 minutes above a certain temperature threshold, once set at 32 degrees Celsius (89.6 Fahrenheit) in the global wet-bulb temperature system.
The change came after heat and humidity affected players during some Club World Cup matches, also in the United States. At this tournament, FIFA responded by lowering the threshold for cooling or fluid breaks and also placing more water and towels on the sidelines.
Extreme temperatures have long been a problem at major football tournaments (but also in other sports such as tennis). Back then, before the 2014 World Cup, a Brazilian court ordered FIFA to make its recommended breaks mandatory or face fines.
FIFA plans to hold three opening ceremonies for the next World Cup, taking place before the opening match on Thursday, June 11, in Mexico City, Mexico-South Africa. The first game in the other two host countries will take place on Friday, June 12, in Toronto (Canada-Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, Northern Ireland or Wales) and Los Angeles (USA-Paraguay). On the other hand, the final on Sunday, July 19, at New York New Jersey Stadium will feature a halftime spectacle for the first time in history, in addition to the traditional closing ceremony.
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