2026 World Cup: 'Unnecessary' hydration breaks draw criticism from players, coaches and fans
At BC Place in Vancouver on Thursday, Canada rolled to a 6-0 win over Qatar, securing its first-ever victory at a World Cup. But 22 minutes into the game, the rowdy, pro-Canada crowd suddenly erupted into boos.
Those in the know knew exactly why the Canadian fans were booing, and it had nothing to do with their team, or the game itself. Instead, the dissatisfaction was about the hydration break, the new three-minute breaks in between halves for water that have sparked significant discussion at the 2026 World Cup.
FIFA introduced the concept back in December, stating that the three-minute breaks would be standardized "no matter where the games are played, no matter if there's a roof, (or) temperature-wise."
However, when put in practice, the decision to ignore context has led to confusion and criticism from fans, players and coaches alike.
https://sports.yahoo.com/soccer/article/2026-world-cup-unnecessary-hydration-breaks-draw-criticism-from-players-coaches-and-fans-054032743.html