World Cup hydration breaks explained as fans fume over ‘insane’ rule | Football | Sport
World Cup fans are fuming (Image: Getty)
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Are hydration breaks mandatory at the World Cup?
- Yes, hydration breaks at the midpoint – precisely 22 minutes – of each half of World Cup matches are compulsory, regardless of the conditions. FIFA has introduced the policy to protect player welfare and counter the effects of extreme heat stress.
- The rule applies to every fixture throughout the tournament, including those held in stadiums equipped with closed roofs and climate control systems. An added benefit of these ‘cooling’ breaks is that they enable broadcasters to plan their schedules accordingly.
- The regulation emerged following the FIFA Club World Cup last summer, during which players and managers were highly critical of the sweltering conditions in the United States.
- Chelsea’s Enzo Fernandez stated he felt “really dizzy” in “very dangerous” temperatures, while Atletico Madrid star Marcos Llorente was “terribly hot” and complained that his “toes were sore, my nails were hurting.”
- However, not everyone is embracing these hydration breaks, with fans across social media sharing their anger at the rule’s rigid nature. One supporter wrote: “Three minutes [the duration of the hydration break] and it’s not even that hot out? Absolutely disgraceful.”
- Another suggested there were financial motivations going unaddressed, adding: “Did FIFA really add hydration breaks just to run more ads? This is insane.”
- Others criticised the change, arguing it had been introduced purely to cater to the American market. One stated: “These hydration breaks are just a back door way of turning football into quarters for Americans.”
- What are your thoughts on the mandatory hydration breaks at the World Cup? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.
