What is a 'cooling' break?: FIFA has implemented a strict new hydration policy for this tournament that requires a three-minute pause at exactly 22 minutes into each half.
This change applies to every game, meaning it will take place regardless of local weather conditions, temperature thresholds, or whether a stadium features a closed roof and climate control systems.
Importance of these safety interventions: The mandatory breaks are primarily designed to safeguard player health and combat extreme heat stress.
Additionally, making these pauses mandatory gives broadcasters a highly predictable schedule to manage their transmissions, though it effectively reshapes the traditional flow of a football match into four quarters.
Reason for mandatory cooling breaks: The initial rationale for introducing hydration breaks stemmed from the Club World Cup last summer.
