Stadium announcer called out for sharing true reality of World Cup water breaks
Football: it's a game of two halves. Or is it four quarters now?
That's the latest controversy engulfing the World Cup, as all 104 matches taking place across the tournament have a mandatory three-minute hydration break, which allows players to grab a drink of water during each half of the match.
The rationale behind the move is understandable, as temperatures can soar to uncomfortable levels across Mexico and the United States in the summer months.
However, not everyone is on board with the measure.
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Netherlands skipper Virgil van Dijk has spoken out against the enforced hydration breaks. "I think for the neutral viewers on TV it is also not great. So if it is really hot, it would be good to put them in, but I think you have to look at every game separately, in my opinion," he said, via SPORTbible. "But I think I have said enough already on that."
The Liverpool player isn't the only person to criticise the blanket rule, with former manager Jürgen Klopp saying they disrupt the flow of matches, while USA coach Mauricio Pochettino told BBC Sport they were 'unnecessary' unless games were taking place in 'extreme' weather.
"Just bin them off."
While FIFA's reasoning for the breaks is player welfare, cynical football fans have claimed that the blanket enforcement of hydration breaks allows the broadcasters to broadcast more adverts to viewers.
Viewers watching the opening Mexico v South Africa match on Fox Sport were quick to criticise the broadcaster's decision to blast commercials during the three-minute pauses, with feeds cutting back to the match seconds after play resumed.
Fans have made comparisons to popular US sports, such as basketball and the NFL, which are divided into four quarters.
So when one commentator called the commencement of a water break 'the first quarter break' fans were quick to share their frustration online.
"Did I seriously just hear the fucking commentator call the water break, ‘the first quarter break’. What the actual f**k, wrote one viewer on X.
"Why does the World Cup have to change from halves to quarters? I've watched the WC for over 35 years and have never seen it played in quarters," wrote another viewer, while a third added: "The absolute worst thing about this World Cup are these 'hydration breaks'.
"Momentum is a massive part of football and these just absolutely kill it. In closed roof, air conditioned stadiums too. Just bin them off."
"The FIFA hydration break is pure capitalism," penned a fourth.
However, not everyone has been critical of the change, with Brazil boss Carlo Ancelotti taking advantage of the stoppage to give his players new tactics.
"[You can] make a tactical adjustment that can be very good," he said after his team's match against Morocco.
What has FIFA said about the hydration breaks?
FIFA has stated that the breaks are in place to prioritise 'player welfare'.
"For every game, no matter where the games are played, no matter if there’s a roof, (or) temperature-wise, there will be a three-minute hydration break. It will be three minutes from whistle to whistle in both halves," Manolo Zubiria, Chief Tournament Officer, USA, for the FIFA World Cup 2026, said of the move.
New rules for the FIFA World Cup 2026
This year, there’s been a whole host of rule changes, many of which are designed to speed up the game and penalise players who drag things out. Some of the new regulations are likely to prove controversial.
10-second substitution
Subbed players now have to get a move on and leave the pitch within ten seconds by the nearest exit point. If they haven’t, their replacement will get held up by one minute until the next stoppage of play, and until then, their side will have to play with 10 men.
5-second throw-ins and goal kicks
If a referee thinks a player is taking too long for a throw-in or goal kick, they’ll start a five-second countdown, by which time the ball needs to be back in play. If it’s not, for throw-ins the opposing team will get their own throw-in, or for a goal kick the other side gets a corner.
Injured players to remain off the pitch for one minute
An injured player treated by medical staff off-field has to stay off the pitch for one minute, leaving their side with just 10 players.
More VAR
VAR can now be used to review an incorrectly awarded corner kick; second yellow cards resulting in a red card; when a player is incorrectly awarded a yellow or red card for another player’s actions; and any attacking fouls that occur before the ball is in play.
Players can’t cover their mouths
Players who cover their mouths in confrontational situations will be handed a red card. It’s believed players might cover their mouths to guard against lip readers while racially abusing other players, which some suspect has happened in the past.
Red cards for players leaving the pitch
Any player who leaves the pitch in protest over a referee’s decision will be handed a red card, and if a team walks off and causes a match to be abandoned, they’ll forfeit the game.
Brenna Cooper