US EditionWorld Cup to include 3-minute hydration breaks in each half of all games, not only in hot weather
FIFA will enforce three-minute hydration breaks at the 22-minute mark of each half to improve player safety amid heat and fatigue concerns, regardless of conditions, officials said.
- Dec 8, 2025 — FIFA announced three-minute hydration breaks in each half of every 2026 FIFA World Cup game, applying to all matches regardless of location or weather.
- Following heat and humidity problems earlier this year, FIFA says the measure prioritises player welfare and reduces heat- and fatigue-related risks at the Club World Cup 2025.
- Operationally, FIFA said referees will call the three-minute breaks added to stoppage time while game clocks keep running, finalised after talks with coaches and broadcasters at the tournament draw.
- Broadcasters noted the change streamlines earlier cooling breaks at 30 minutes and 31 C, while coaches can use the pauses to adjust tactics, potentially altering games.
- With 48 teams, the 2026 FIFA World Cup will be held across the United States, Canada and Mexico from June 11 to July 14, with 10 of 16 venues at very high heat risk, a report found.
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The Fifa decided to introduce three-minute breaks in the middle of each half of the 2026 World Cup. A boon for broadcasters, who should offer additional advertising pages.
World Cup Matches Get Americanized With Addition Of Mandatory Protocol
With the 2026 World Cup coming to North America and the majority of the games being hosted in the United States, it's only right that the event gets Americanized. Given that the tournament will run from June 11–July 19, temperatures in most host cities will be scorching. Therefore, FIFA announced earlier this week that every match during the World Cup will feature three-minute hydration breaks in each half. READ: Seattle's Woke World Cup Agenda …
It seems that not even the biggest sporting event will be able to escape Americanization.
FIFA has officially announced the introduction of an important novelty regarding the performance of the 2026 World Championship matches that will be played between USA, Canada and Mexico starting from June. There will be in fact the hydration break, that is a 3 minute break scheduled for the 22nd minute of both the first and the second half, useful to players to rehydrate. A novelty wanted to allow players to play in the best possible conditions…
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