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Hydration or tactical advantage? New World Cup rule sparks debate

Politiko 2026-06-15 16:11:33

Hydration or tactical advantage? New World Cup rule sparks debate

Mandatory hydration breaks at the 2026 World Cup are causing great debate among coaches and former footballers, with many of them considering them more like "breaks to break the rhythm" than measures for the well-being of players.

In every match, referees stop play around the 22nd minute of each half for a three-minute break, in order to cope with the high temperatures in the United States, Canada and Mexico. However, critics question why these interruptions take place even in stadiums with closed roofs and controlled climates.

USA coach Mauricio Pochettino spoke out against this rule, stressing that the breaks should only be applied in extreme weather conditions.

Meanwhile, some teams appear to have benefited directly from the interruptions. Brazil equalised against Morocco just six minutes into the hydration break, with Carlo Ancelotti admitting he used the moment to give new tactical instructions. Canada, Scotland and Australia also scored goals shortly after the restart.

USA women's coach Emma Hayes has dubbed these interruptions "momentum breaks," arguing that they favor teams that are struggling and penalize teams that are dominating the game.

Former Spanish midfielder Juan Mata shares the same opinion. The 2010 World Cup winner with Spain stated that as a footballer he would not have liked such an interruption at all, as according to him, pace and momentum are key elements of the match.

So, while FIFA sees hydration breaks as a protective measure for players, many coaches and former footballers are considering them as a factor that is changing the flow of matches and creating a "timeout" similar to American sports.

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