FIFA scraps second-half hydration break in France vs Iraq after two-hour weather delay

FIFA abandoned the second-half hydration break in France’s World Cup clash against Iraq on Tuesday after a severe weather delay of more than two hours pushed the restart far beyond the point at which the pause would normally occur.

Heavy rain struck Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia late in the first half, followed by lightning activity closing in on the stadium. Officials instructed supporters to leave open seating areas during the interval, and FIFA initially indicated the second half would be delayed by at least 15 minutes on safety grounds. In the end, players did not return to the pitch for over two hours, with France leading 1-0 courtesy of Kylian Mbappé’s goal after 14 minutes. A FIFA spokesperson confirmed simply: “No hydration break in the second half.”

FIFA had announced in December that all 104 matches at this summer’s tournament would feature three-minute hydration breaks midway through each half, citing the expected high temperatures across North American host venues. The policy has drawn criticism from players and pundits alike, with crowds audibly booing when the stoppages begin.

Netherlands defender Virgil van Dijk was among the most prominent voices to question the breaks after his side’s 2-2 draw with Japan at the air-conditioned AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. “Hydration breaks are a bit interesting,” van Dijk said. “Every time going to commercial is a bit… not really that I like it. I think for the neutral watchers on TV it’s also not great. If it’s really hot, obviously it would be good to put them in. But I think you have to look at it in every game, separately.”

France manager Didier Deschamps, however, has spoken in favour of the breaks, describing them as a tactical opportunity. “These hydration breaks for three minutes, you can get the players close to you and this gives you an opportunity to adjust a couple of things,” he said ahead of his side’s opener against Senegal. “With the high temperatures, it’s important to be able to give this extra opportunity to the head coach.”

The controversy around the breaks has centred on two issues beyond player welfare: the window they create for commercial advertising during live matches, and the tactical advantage they hand to coaching staff — effectively splitting each half into two distinct segments and allowing managers to deliver instructions mid-game in a way not normally permitted.