2026 World Cup: 'Unnecessary' hydration breaks draw criticism from players, coaches and fans

Key Points:

• Canada secured its first-ever World Cup victory with a 6-0 win over Qatar at BC Place in Vancouver, but fans booed during a hydration break 22 minutes into the game, expressing dissatisfaction with the new rule rather than the team's performance.
• FIFA introduced standardized three-minute hydration breaks between halves for all 2026 World Cup matches regardless of venue or temperature, a decision that has sparked criticism for disrupting game momentum and being unnecessary in climate-controlled stadiums.
• Coaches and players have mixed views on the breaks: some see them as useful in hot conditions, while others, including French manager Didier Deschamps and Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk, criticize them for breaking the flow of the game and suspect they benefit broadcasters by adding commercial breaks.
• Broadcasters differ in their approach to commercials during hydration breaks, with Fox airing ads and Telemundo choosing not to, influencing some viewers' choice of broadcast service.
• Teams are adapting by using hydration breaks strategically for tactical discussions, but some coaches, like Norway's Ståle Solbakken, find the breaks unnecessary in cooler conditions and believe they conflict with other FIFA efforts to speed up the game.