▲ England players drinking water during a hydration break
The "hydration breaks" introduced by FIFA for the 2026 North and Central America World Cup are sparking various controversies.
Along with complaints that they "break the flow of the game" and "only serve to increase TV commercial time," there are now opinions that the "break time is too short."
Hydration breaks are mandatory pauses once in each half, designed to protect the health of players amid the hot and humid weather in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, where the tournament is being held.
Players take a 3-minute break at the 22nd minute of the first and second halves to quench their thirst and wipe away sweat.
Due to the operation of this system, the game structure has effectively shifted from two halves to four quarters, with the hydration breaks serving as the dividing points.
Under the guise of hydration, team managers use the time for tactical discussions, which has also changed game strategies.
While it may provide a novel form of entertainment, "four-quarter soccer" has yet to be welcomed.
According to a report introduced by the Associated Press on June 18 (KST), Douglas Casa, CEO of the Korey Stringer Institute at the University of Connecticut, stated, "Some athletes can comfortably consume a large amount of fluid, but others cannot drink a lot in a short time because it makes their stomachs feel sloshy."
He further argued, "To maximize the cooling and hydration effects, the break time should be extended to 5 to 6 minutes, and that difference could make a significant change."
The Korey Stringer Institute provides research, education, and consulting services to maximize performance and optimize safety for athletes, soldiers, and workers, as well as to prevent sudden death.
Meanwhile, according to a survey of over 9,000 readers conducted by the American online sports media outlet The Athletic, 76.4% of respondents said there is a problem with the hydration break system.
Only 13.3% said there was no problem, and 10.3% said they liked it, indicating an overwhelmingly negative sentiment.
Public opinion on the hydration breaks remains unfavorable due to concerns that artificial pauses have completely altered the structure of the game, the fact that the weather in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico is not as hot as expected, and that the breaks have added 10 hours of commercial time across 104 matches, with 6 minutes added per game.
(Photo: Getty Images)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.