FIFA have announced that every match at the 2026 World Cup will stop for a three-minute “hydration break” halfway through each half.
The new rule, effectively chopping games into four quarters, similar to the NFL or basketball was agreed during meetings with bosses, coaches and broadcasters held alongside Friday’s World Cup draw.
FIFA’s medical team backed the plan, insisting the move is primarily for player safety.
But it also hands managers a handy extra window to dish out instructions and tweak tactics mid-game.
Traditionally, football has stuck to two 45-minute halves, with only injuries or extreme heat prompting a pause.
In recent years, “cooling breaks” have crept in more often as global temperatures rise and sports scientists warn about the dangers of playing in scorching conditions.
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But unlike the old heat-dependent system, these new mandatory breaks will happen in every World Cup match, regardless of weather around the 22-minute mark.
FIFA said in a statement, confirming referees will call the timeouts in every fixture to keep things fair for all teams: “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.”
Manolo Zubiria, FIFA’s chief tournament officer, told broadcasters in Washington, D.C., that each pause will run “three minutes from whistle to whistle”.
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If an injury is already being dealt with at the 20-minute mark, refs will adjust as needed.
The game clock won’t stop, but officials will tack on an extra three minutes at the end of each half.
Player welfare groups will welcome the step, though FIFPRO had previously argued for shorter, more frequent breaks rather than just one per half.
Their medical chief, Vincent Gouttebarge, warned last summer that the traditional timing of cooling breaks “does not make sense” from a physiological standpoint.
Concerns surged during last year’s Club World Cup, where several matches kicked off in brutal 90-plus degree heat at MetLife Stadium.
FIFA even lowered the threshold for cooling breaks mid-tournament after player complaints.
To avoid similar issues in 2026, most afternoon games will be held in either roofed, air-conditioned venues or cooler cities.
Evening kick-offs are planned for hotter locations including New Jersey, Miami, Philadelphia, Kansas City and Monterrey though the final will still be a 3pm start at MetLife.
The mandatory breaks also open the door for broadcasters to squeeze in extra mid-match ads if they choose.
At the same broadcast summit, TV networks were told the tournament will feature three opening ceremonies, one in Mexico City before the very first match, one in Toronto ahead of Canada’s opener, and a third in Los Angeles before the USA’s first game.
The 2026 World Cup begins June 11 and will pack 104 matches into 39 days, ending with the final on July 19.
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