Bielsa condemns World Cup hydration breaks as a damaging 'change of culture' for football

Marcelo Bielsa has launched a pointed attack on FIFA’s newly introduced hydration breaks at the 2026 World Cup, telling reporters the mandatory stoppages represent a “change of culture” that “adds nothing and takes away a lot” from football.

FIFA has mandated three-minute drinks breaks at the halfway point of each half across the tournament in the United States, Mexico and Canada, citing sweltering temperatures in host cities. The breaks have drawn widespread criticism for disrupting game momentum and providing additional advertising windows, with several matches played in mild conditions making the stoppages appear unnecessary.

Bielsa, who coaches Uruguay, was unsparing in his assessment. “Playing four times instead of two alters the conception of what had been culturally built to interpret football,” he said. “This change of culture does not add anything and takes away a lot. I will just say that before this decision, football had a characteristic, now it has another. People fall in love with the game because of its characteristics.”

The Argentine coach drew a distinction between these breaks and other modern interventions. “Of course technology like VAR, we commend it and value it. Technology offers more opportunities. There is another intention for the breaks and the conclusions I’m making here are not really my own. I also echo what I hear as well.”

Bielsa’s comments came ahead of Uruguay’s second group-stage fixture against Cape Verde on Sunday. The group is tightly poised, with all four teams — Uruguay, Cape Verde, Saudi Arabia and Spain — level on one point each after the opening round.

Cape Verde held European champions Spain to a 0-0 draw with a disciplined defensive display, and Bielsa acknowledged Uruguay would need to adapt after being frustrated by a similar low block in their 1-1 draw with Saudi Arabia. “We did have a lot of possession and very few chances created in the first half,” he said. “In the second half, it was agile and offensive possession, dynamic in nature with a high level of mobility.”

StrikerDarwin Núñez came in for scrutiny following a subdued display against Saudi Arabia, managing only one shot before being substituted at half-time. The 26-year-old has not scored in his last 14 appearances for Uruguay and appears likely to be dropped, though Bielsa rejected the idea that confidence was a factor. “Any footballer who is taking part at the World Cup doesn’t need any motivation,” he said. “The consequences, the scope, the magnificence of such a high-calibre tournament — anyone taking part makes them highly driven and justifiably so.”

On a lighter note, Bielsa firmly dismissed any suggestion his players might follow Spain’s Marc Cucurella in pledging to get a tattoo of their coach if they win the tournament. “This is not going to happen,” he said, drawing laughter from the room.