FIFA announces a tweak to how games will be played at 2026 World Cup
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- FIFA mandates two three-minute hydration breaks per match, at 22 minutes.
- Hydration breaks will occur in both halves regardless of roof or ambient temperature.
- Referees may adjust timing for injuries in the 20th or 21st minute.
The biggest complaint about the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, other than the competition being held in the first place, was the heat.
All the games were held in the United States this past summer, and multiple players spoke out about the brutal conditions. That is likely one reason why FIFA decided on nighttime starts for the 2026 World Cup matches to be played at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium.
FIFA this week announced a plan to help players deal with potential heat during the 2026 World Cup, which will be played in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Each match will include a hydration break in both halves.
“For every game, no matter where the games are played, no matter if there’s a roof, (or) temperature-wise, there will be a three-minute hydration break. It will be three minutes from whistle to whistle in both halves,” Manolo Zubiria, the USA’s Chief Tournament Officer for the 2026 World Cup, said in a news release.
How hydration breaks will work
Here is what fans can expect to see during the matches next summer in Kansas City and elsewhere.
- At the 22-minute mark into each half, the referee will stop the game so players can hydrate
- The break will last three minutes
- If there is a stoppage because of an injury in the 20th or 21st minute, the referee will have the discretion to start the water break at that time
This story was originally published December 10, 2025 at 10:58 AM.
