FIFA mandates hydration breaks at every World Cup match, even in climate-controlled stadiums

FIFA has made hydration breaks mandatory at the midpoint of every half during the 2026 World Cup — exactly 22 minutes in — irrespective of the weather, venue temperature, or whether a stadium is operating with a closed roof and climate control.

The rule applies universally across all matches in the tournament, meaning even games played in air-conditioned arenas will be paused for a three-minute break in each half. FIFA framed the policy as a player health measure designed to combat extreme heat stress.

The decision follows widespread criticism from players and coaches at last summer’s FIFA Club World Cup, held in the United States. Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez said he felt “really dizzy” in what he described as “very dangerous” temperatures, while Atlético Madrid’s Marcos Llorente said he was “terribly hot” and that his “toes were sore, my nails were hurting.”

Not everyone has welcomed the change. Fans on social media have been vocal in their frustration, with some questioning the logic of enforcing the rule in cooler or climate-controlled conditions. “Three minutes and it’s not even that hot out? Absolutely disgraceful,” one supporter wrote. Another suggested a commercial motive: “Did FIFA really add hydration breaks just to run more ads? This is insane.”

A third line of criticism centred on the format itself, with some fans arguing the breaks fragment the flow of the game in a way that caters to American broadcast conventions. “These hydration breaks are just a back door way of turning football into quarters for Americans,” one wrote.

FIFA has not publicly addressed those specific complaints, but the organisation confirmed the breaks also serve a secondary purpose of providing broadcasters with a fixed scheduling window during each half — a structural benefit that critics have seized on as evidence the rule is commercially rather than medically driven.

The policy is now in effect for the duration of the tournament.