When FIFA announced that the 2026 World Cup would feature two mandatory three-minute hydration breaks in every match, the explanation seemed reasonable only in certain cases. The United States, Mexico and Canada host cities where temperatures can reach very high levels during the summer, and nobody disputes that player welfare should be a priority. But making them mandatory in every match regardless of the circumstances? That leaves a bad taste for fans.
The reality of the tournament shows that FIFA has not introduced these breaks exclusively for matches played in extreme conditions. Instead, they have become mandatory across all 104 matches of the competition, regardless of the temperature, the city or even the stadium in which the game is played. As a result, there is now a guaranteed commercial break in each half, with the certainty that very few viewers will leave their screens during those three minutes.
The Spain-Cape Verde example
Perhaps the best example was Monday’s match between Spain and Cape Verde in Atlanta. The game was played at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, a fully covered and climate-controlled venue. The players were not competing under direct sunlight nor exposed to the high outdoor temperatures typical of Georgia at this time of year. Yet the match featured exactly the same two mandatory three-minute breaks as games played in much more demanding climatic conditions.
It is difficult to argue that the players required two scheduled interruptions to hydrate in an environment specifically designed and controlled for elite sport. This changes the nature of the competition as it has traditionally been understood. There is effectively an additional timeout, while broadcasters gain two perfectly scheduled windows for advertising or sponsored content.
From exception to universal rule
Hydration breaks were originally introduced for exceptional circumstances. For years, they were only used when temperatures exceeded 32°C, a threshold considered to pose a risk to athlete health. What now raises questions is the decision to transform that exception into a universal obligation.
And this is where scepticism becomes difficult to avoid. The breaks are hugely beneficial for television broadcasts. Splitting each half into two segments creates additional opportunities for advertising, commercial integrations, tactical analysis and an expanded inventory of broadcast content. All of this is achieved without officially extending the duration of the match.
None of this proves that FIFA introduced the measure for commercial reasons. However, it does weaken the sporting justification when the breaks are applied in exactly the same way to matches where the weather conditions do not appear to require any extraordinary intervention.
European football does not seem convinced
Perhaps that is why it is not particularly surprising that UEFA has decided not to follow this path on a permanent basis. Not because it opposes hydration or player protection, but because hydration breaks have historically been used when conditions genuinely justified them. Turning them into a fixed requirement for every match is a very different approach.
Looking solely at television and media rights, current estimates place FIFA’s revenue at around $4 billion. That represents an increase of roughly 30% compared with Qatar 2022. Although total revenues are expected to reach record levels, the increase is not explained simply by broadcasters paying substantially more for each match. The tournament has expanded from 64 matches in Qatar to 104 in 2026, an increase of 62.5%.
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