For the first time in World Cup history, FIFA has made hydration breaks mandatory in every match, a sweeping player-safety measure introduced amid growing concerns that the 2026 tournament could become one of the hottest ever staged.
Yet while the policy is designed to protect athletes from dangerous heat-related illnesses, it has already drawn criticism from medical experts, coaches, players and fans who argue the breaks either do too little or disrupt the sport too much.
The three-minute stoppages, scheduled midway through each half regardless of weather conditions or stadium design, represent FIFA's most aggressive attempt yet to address the challenges of playing elite football during increasingly extreme summer temperatures across the United States, Mexico and Canada.
The governing body says the rule ensures equal conditions for every team and builds on lessons learned during previous competitions, including last year's Club World Cup in the United States, where temperatures frequently climbed into the 33 degrees Celcius (91.4 degrees Celsius).
But the initiative has quickly found itself caught between two opposing camps.
