Netherlands captain Van Dijk questions hydration breaks at the 2026 World Cup: ‘not pleasant’
The 2026 edition of the World Cup marked the unprecedented implementation of “cooling breaks”, or breaks for hydration, in the tournament regulations. This system determines three-minute interruptions in each game period, aiming to rest and rehydrate the athletes. However, the introduction of this rule generated discontent among some, such as player Van Dijk, who, after the Netherlands’ debut last Sunday, expressed his view that FIFA’s measure compromises the quality of the spectacle.
During the mixed zone, the Dutch defender described the hydration stops as “somewhat curious”. He reported having followed almost all the matches so far and highlighted his disapproval of the constant interruption of the game, especially when he perceives a possible advertising bias. The athlete also commented that the experience becomes “not very pleasant” for those watching on television, suggesting that such interruptions should be evaluated individually and only applied in conditions of extreme heat.
Hydration interruptions gained more notoriety from the previous year, with emphasis on the Club World Cup, also held on American soil. FIFA, in turn, defended the inclusion of the measure in the World Cup, explaining that it is an effort to ensure the “best conditions for all players”, based on previous experiences in other competitions.
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Although there is no exact pre-determined time for hydration breaks at the World Cup, judges tend to signal them around the 22nd minute of each half. The application of these stops does not take into account the ambient temperature of the game location, including in arenas with full coverage.
In the Brazilian context, the practice of hydration stops has already been adopted in certain Brasileirão and State championship matches since 2025. However, the local model differs significantly from FIFA guidelines, as interruptions are subject to analysis of the weather, the time of the matches and require the agreement of the coaches of the teams involved.
In the opening of Group F, the Dutch team and the Japanese team played out a 2-2 draw. The match took place at the AT&T Stadium, located in Dallas, and saw goals from Van Dijk and Summerville for the Dutch, while Nakamura and Kamada scored for the Japanese.
Currently, the team led by Ronald Koeman is in third place in the group, with one point, the same as Japan, which occupies second place. The group’s leader belongs to Sweden, with three points, and Tunisia closes the table, still without scoring in the competition.
- Second game: Face Sweden on June 20, at 2 pm, in the city of Houston.
- Third game: Game against Tunisia on June 25, at 8 pm, in Kansas City.
