A water break — or an ad break? New World Cup rule draws scrutiny toward broadcasters.
After 22 fans were treated for heat-related illnesses at football fan events in the United States, the argument that games need hydration breaks for players’ welfare has been gaining traction, with criticism initially directed at FIFA shifting toward broadcasters instead.
The hottest debate of this World Cup may be about water. FIFA, the governing body of international football, has made three-minute hydration breaks mandatory in both halves of every match at this year’s tournament, and early reactions to the newly implemented break have been both hot and cold.
This is not the first time that FIFA has enforced hydration breaks during the World Cup. In Brazil in 2014, compulsory cooling breaks were left to the referee’s discretion when temperatures exceeded 32 degrees Celsius (89.6 degrees Fahrenheit). This year, the mandatory break applies uniformly across all matches due to hotter summer temperatures worldwide.
For example, daytime high temperatures in two of the host cities, Atlanta and Miami, have reached approximately 32 degrees Celsius.
Related Article
Korea’s national team on Thursday used the new water break as a mini strategy meeting, reorganizing its plans during a group-stage match against the Czech Republic at Estadio Guadalajara — temporarily renamed from Estadio Akron — in Mexico.
And it appears that the move worked.
After conceding the opening goal in the 59th minute, Korea equalized the scoreboard thanks to Hwang In-beom in the 67th minute. Following the hydration break, Oh Hyeon-gyu scored the winning goal in the 80th minute to seal a 2-1 comeback victory.
“I told the players [during the break] that we could still score if we kept our heads in the game,” coach Hong Myung-bo said after the match. “I also told them to maintain their positions and avoid giving the ball away.”
Other teams have also reportedly used these water breaks as opportunities to make tactical adjustments and help players recover physically. The breaks have caused little disruption to the flow of matches despite concerns before the tournament.
Given that the breaks have caused little disruption to the flow of matches, most concerns that the new rule would alter the nature of the sport have been washed away.
However, not everyone is cool with the mandatory water breaks.
“I don’t like [the new rule]. I only like it when the [temperature] conditions are extreme, but when the conditions are good, it is unnecessary,” said U.S. national team coach Mauricio Pochettino before the World Cup.
The European football industry has argued that the new rule is turning the sport into an American football game divided into quarters.
Critics have questioned why the breaks are being enforced even in air-conditioned domed stadiums and suggested that considerations beyond player welfare may be at play.
“[FIFA] said the breaks were for ‘player welfare,’ but many fans saw through the spin and assumed the breaks would be used by broadcasters to show commercials,” wrote The Athletic on Friday.
But the need for a mandatory hydration break was proven soon after the tournament started.
Approximately 22 spectators were treated for heat-related illness at outdoor fan festivals in Houston, where temperatures reached as high as 40 degrees Celsius, and other southern parts of the United States.
As a result, the argument that games taking place in hot areas such as Texas or Florida need a hydration break for players’ welfare is gaining traction, with criticism that had initially been directed at FIFA increasingly shifting toward broadcasters.
U.S. sports broadcaster Fox Sports missed the resumption of the game between Mexico and South Africa on Thursday after it aired a lengthy commercial during the hydration break.
By contrast, Telemundo, the Spanish-language broadcast rights holder in the United States, did not cut to commercials and instead continued to show live stadium footage and tactical analyses during stoppages.
Former Liverpool manager Jürgen Klopp criticized the advertising practices during an appearance on the German public broadcaster ZDF.
“A World Cup match should flow like a river,” he said. “Instead, we build dams right in the middle so commercials can get through.”
Stuck at work or school when Korea kicks off? We've got you covered. The Korea JoongAng Daily is live-blogging every Korea match at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, around the clock. Don't miss a moment.
BY CHANG HYE-SOO [[email protected]]
