The 2026 FIFA World Cup offered everything a football fan could have asked for. Stunning goals, brilliant tactical lessons, rising stars and moments of pure drama lit up the sport’s biggest stage.
Now, let me get some water and come back.
Annoying, isn’t it?
Well, that’s exactly the debate surrounding the World Cup at the moment. The mandatory three-minute pauses in each half, known as cool-down periods, have sharply divided fans, players, coaches and pundits.
FIFA introduced the tournament rule, under which match officials stop play at approximately the 22nd minute of each half for breaks. A stoppage is imposed in every match, regardless of weather conditions or temperature, with referees overseeing the timing to ensure consistency throughout the competition.
FIFA also allowed broadcasters to take advantage of breaks by inserting advertisements to maximize revenues, a first for football. As a result, viewers suddenly find themselves watching commercials in the middle of a World Cup match.
In fact, football has become more like a four-quarter sport rather than a continuous two-half game.
But is this really necessary? This is the question that many ask.
Ruining the football experience?
Football thrives on momentum.
A comeback is rarely built in an instant. This comes through constant pressing, possession and players gradually finding their rhythm. A team chasing a goal often relies on conserving intensity and forcing mistakes from opponents who are starting to tire.
For this reason, many believe that the core of the game has been disrupted due to these interruptions.
When the competition starts to reach its peak and the starting players start to find their groove, the referee blows his whistle and everyone heads to the touchline.
And it’s not just supporters who feel this way.
Players and coaches have publicly questioned the need for hydration breaks in matches where conditions are far from maximum.
“I think the breaks are a bit interesting because I was watching almost all the matches. Every time I don’t like going to commercials,” Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk told reporters.
“I think it’s also not great for neutral viewers on TV. So if it’s really hot, obviously it would be good to have them. But I think you have to look at it on a game-by-game basis.”
US coach Mauricio Pochettino echoed similar sentiments, saying rest breaks only make sense when weather conditions really call for it.
“I don’t like it. I only like it when the conditions are tough,” the USMNT president said.
“But when conditions are good, it’s not necessary.”
The United States boasts many stadiums with retractable roofs and air conditioning systems, allowing players to perform in comfortable conditions regardless of the weather outside.
An opportunity for coaches to rebalance?
Brazil seemed unable to provide answers to Morocco Before the hydration break arrives in time.
The stoppage gave Carlo Ancelotti an opportunity to gather his players and pass on tactical instructions.
Shortly after play resumed, Brazil equalized through Vinicius Junior and eventually got a point.
“You can explain the problem to the players,” Ancelotti said afterwards when asked about the benefits of breaks.
“[You can] Make a tactical adjustment that can be very good.”
For coaches, a stoppage is a tactical reprieve, a rare opportunity in football to reset form, tweak strategy and disrupt the opposition’s rhythm.
Traditionally, managers have relied on injuries or long layoffs to get messages out on the pitch. Now, they have a guaranteed window of two per game.
But these momentum shifts don’t always work to everyone’s advantage.
Curacao were living the dream after drawing against Germany before a water break halted play. Once the match resumed, the four-time world champions quickly regained control and cruised to a 7-1 victory.
While the collapse cannot be attributed entirely to a loss of fluids in the body, the stoppage may have played a role in returning the match in Germany’s favour.
Former Spanish midfielder Juan Mata admitted that, from the player’s point of view, such interruptions are far from ideal.
“As a player, I don’t think it’s great,” he told ITV Sport.
“When you lose, you want to score, and when you win, you want to keep the ball. I think they break the momentum.”
Just space for ads?
If we remove the arguments about player welfare and tactics, an uncomfortable question remains: Are these breaks just another advertising window?
FIFA has stated that broadcasters must return to live broadcasting 30 seconds before play resumes.
However, this guideline was not followed during the Mexico vs. South Africa match, as FOX reportedly remained on commercials for approximately 10 seconds after the match restarted.
Former England striker Ian Wright was among those who were not convinced by the move.
“I think it’s another way to attract advertising from an American perspective,” Wright said.
For lifelong soccer fans, one of the greatest attractions of the sport has always been its relentless flow.
The last thing many want is for a commercial break to put a match hanging in the balance.
Imagine watching Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo exchanging blows on the biggest stage, and then the action is cut short by an announcement.
This is the nightmare scenario that many supporters fear.
What about the fans?
If crowd reaction is the measure FIFA intends to use, the early verdict was not encouraging.
England’s match against Croatia in Dallas witnessed the wet break being greeted with boos from sections of the crowd, and similar reactions were heard during Thursday’s matches.
Even spectators inside stadiums appear to be growing increasingly frustrated with the interruptions, making it easy to understand the complaints of those watching at home.
Whatever FIFA ultimately decides, it appears that fans are the ones paying the price at the moment.
The governing body may have introduced rest periods with the welfare of players in mind, and coaches may appreciate the tactical opportunities they provide.
But football remains a sport driven by its fans.
If FIFA wants hydration breaks to become a permanent feature of the World Cup, it may need to find a way to ensure they enhance the spectacle rather than disrupt it.
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