Addis Ababa, December 9, 2025 (FMC) — The 2026 FIFA World Cup will include mandatory three-minute hydration breaks midway through each half of every match, marking a significant shift in match management aimed at safeguarding player welfare.
The measure, reported by The Athletic, was confirmed by FIFA on Sunday and means all games will pause around the 22nd minute of each half regardless of temperature.
The move effectively breaks matches into four phases of play and departs from the long-standing system of uninterrupted 45-minute halves, previously only interrupted for injuries or heat-related cooling breaks. FIFA said the change ensures uniform conditions for all teams and has received full backing from its medical department, as well as coaches and broadcasters consulted during World Cup draw week meetings.
Manolo Zubiria, the 2026 World Cup Chief Tournament Officer, told stakeholders during a World Broadcaster Meeting in Washington, D.C., that the stoppages will run for “three minutes from whistle to whistle” each half. The game clock will continue, but the lost time will be compensated through added time. If an injury stoppage overlaps with the hydration interval, referees will manage it situationally.
The decision follows heightened debate around match conditions during last summer’s Club World Cup in the United States, where several fixtures were played in temperatures above 90 degrees Fahrenheit. While the 2026 schedule has been designed to minimize heat — with most afternoon matches in air-conditioned venues or cooler cities, and many fixtures in the U.S. Northeast scheduled for evenings — FIFA opted for a universal rule rather than temperature-dependent pauses.
Player welfare groups have largely welcomed the policy, though some experts, including FIFPRO medical director Vincent Gouttebarge, previously suggested shorter but more frequent breaks could be more effective physiologically. FIFA believes the universal approach offers clarity and consistency, while also creating potential broadcast inventory during the pauses.
Broadcasters were also informed that the tournament will open on June 11, 2026 with three separate opening ceremonies — one at Estadio Azteca in Mexico City ahead of the first match, another in Toronto for Canada’s opener, and a third later in Los Angeles before the U.S. kickoff. The World Cup will feature 104 matches across 39 days and conclude with the final on July 19 at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.