A significant change is confirmed for the 2026 World Cup, covering all 104 matches of the tournament. The International Football Federation (FIFA) implemented two compulsory breaks for hydration during matches, scheduled for 22 minutes of the first and second half. Each of these interruptions will last exactly three minutes.
Unlike previous editions of the World Cup, this stoppage will not be conditioned by the ambient temperature or any other meteorological conditions during the match, and will be applied universally.
Football’s highest organization declared that the main purpose of this measure is to protect the health and well-being of athletes, considering that the competition will take place during the summer period in North America.
Understand how interruptions work during World Cup matches
The three minutes allocated for each break will be added to the end of each stage of the game. This means that the official clock will not be stopped, resulting in an automatic increase in the final extra time of each period.
In atypical circumstances, such as the need for emergency medical care or the review of bids by the VAR at moments close to the scheduled stoppage, the main referee will have the autonomy to adjust the time of the interruption, seeking to avoid sequential stoppages.
Although the main motivation is the physical protection of players, the new rule also opens up space for strategic use during matches.
Some teams have already tried this new format in recent preparatory friendlies. With guaranteed time to talk to their players, coaches get a valuable extra opportunity to convey instructions and make tactical adjustments to their teams during the game.
In addition to the strictly sporting aspects, this change creates new commercial perspectives for broadcasting companies. Broadcasters will have the chance to show brief advertisements during breaks, bringing the World Cup broadcast model closer to the format already established in major North American leagues, such as the NFL and NBA, which use breaks for advertising blocks.
Important details for fans to follow the new rules on the field
If a team is in the middle of an offensive play at the exact moment of the interruption, the referee must wait for the action to be completed before allowing the stoppage.
During the hydration break periods, athletes must remain on the pitch or in the vicinity of the technical area, where they will receive guidance from their respective committees.
FIFA has not yet announced whether this measure will be maintained beyond the 2026 World Cup. The decision was primarily motivated by the climatic characteristics of the North American summer and will be subject to a detailed assessment after the conclusion of the tournament.
