Hydration is impaired. There will be a 3-minute break in the 2026 World Cup

Football players are in action world championship 2026 FIFA said that there will be a three-minute hydration break in each half for the tournament to be hosted by Canada, Mexico and the USA next summer.

In a simplified and improved version of the timeouts used in some previous tournaments, including the 2025 Club World Cup, the referee will stop play at the 22nd minute of each half to allow players to rehydrate. Weather or temperature conditions will not be taken into account and there will be stoppages in all matches to ensure equal conditions for all teams.

Manolo ZubiriaAnnouncing the initiative at a meeting of world broadcasters in Washington, the 2026 World Cup’s US chief tournament director said: “There will be a three-minute hydration break for each match, regardless of where it is played, regardless of the presence of a roof or the temperature. Three minutes from whistle to whistle in each half. Obviously, if there is a stoppage due to injury in the 20th or 21st minute and it continues, that matter will be decided on the spot.” By the referee.”

The use of hydration breaks is part of a joint initiative to provide the best possible conditions for football players, building on experience from previous tournaments, including last summer’s Club World Cup in the USA. The 2026 World Cup fixture calendar has been designed to minimize travel for teams and fans, maximize rest days between matches for all teams and enable the widest possible global audience to follow matches across time zones.

This complex study involved technical analysis of all areas, from average temperature and cooling systems to public transport and security, as well as joint discussions between various FIFA functional units such as competition management, team management, medical department, television, broadcasting and ticketing.

FIFA plans to hold three opening ceremonies at the start of the tournament. In addition to the ceremony at the opening match on June 11, 2026 in Mexico City (Mexico – South Africa), ceremonies will also be held before the first matches of the other host countries: on June 12 in Toronto (Canada – Bosnia and Herzegovina, Italy, Northern Ireland or Wales) and in Los Angeles (USA – Paraguay). In addition, the 2026 World Cup final, which will be held at the New York-New Jersey Stadium on July 19, 2026, will include a halftime show for the first time, in addition to the traditional closing ceremony.