FIFA has confirmed a major change to match regulations for the 2026 Men’s World Cup in North America: every game will now feature a mandatory three-minute hydration break in each half, regardless of weather conditions, venue or stadium technology.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Starting next year, referees will stop the game at the 22-minute mark of each half to allow players to drink water and cool down. Unlike previous tournaments, this rule will apply even in roofed stadiums or venues with advanced air-conditioning systems across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Officials will have limited flexibility. If the game is already paused shortly before the 22-minute mark because of an injury or stoppage, the hydration break could be merged into that delay. “This will be addressed on the spot with the referee,” said Manolo Zubiria, FIFA’s chief tournament officer for 2026, during a meeting with broadcasters where the change was first presented.The governing body called the update a “streamlined and simplified version” of existing regulations, which previously mandated breaks only when a specific heat threshold was crossed — once set at 32°C using the wet bulb global temperature measurement.
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The decision follows concerns raised during this year’s FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, where players struggled in high humidity. Tournaments in previous years have also highlighted similar risks, with a Brazilian court famously ordering FIFA to enforce cooling breaks during the 2014 World Cup or face fines.Beyond safety, the change is expected to benefit broadcasters, who gain predictable stoppage windows for advertising breaks and coverage planning — a rare fixed moment in a sport known for continuous play.
