ވޯލްޑް ކަޕް 2026 ގައި ނޯވޭ ޓީމު ހައިޑްރޭޝަން ބްރޭކުގައި
The ‘hydration breaks’ (time allowed for drinking water) introduced at this year's football World Cup have not affected the flow of play or match results, but no decision has yet been made on their future, FIFA's chief of global football development Arsène Wenger has said.
Speaking at a press conference yesterday, Wenger said the effects of hydration breaks would be studied in depth after the 2026 World Cup ends.
“Hydration breaks have no effect on match results. No decision has yet been made on providing hydration breaks at future tournaments,” he said.
FIFA made the three-minute breaks midway through each half mandatory in every match of the tournament to help players cope with the hot weather in the United States, Canada and Mexico. However, the decision to provide the breaks regardless of weather conditions or venue has drawn criticism and disapproval from fans at the grounds, as the breaks have also been taken during indoor matches in Atlanta, Dallas, Houston and Vancouver.
The breaks allow coaches to use them as a mid-match ‘timeout’ to give players tactical instructions. They also offer broadcasters a valuable opportunity to show advertisements and are therefore expected to become an important issue in future media rights negotiations. Reports say Fox, which broadcasts the tournament in the United States, alone is expected to earn at least USD 250 million from advertisements during these breaks.
FIFA first introduced such cooling breaks at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, following a court order requiring players to be given time to rest if temperatures exceeded 89.6 degrees Fahrenheit.
Tonight's final between Spain and Argentina at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey in the United States will be Spain's second outdoor match of this year's tournament.
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