How do hydration breaks work during the 2026 World Cup and how long do they last?

It promises to be hot and humid in a number of World Cup host cities this summer, which will be uncomfortable for players and fans alike in some venues, but much less so in others.

While Dallas, Houston and Atlanta frequently see stretches of 90-degree Fahrenheit days between mid-June and mid-July, the venues in those cities have retractable roofs and air conditioning. That means being inside the stadium may actually offer some respite from the sweltering conditions outside.

Hard Rock Stadium in Miami, however, has no such facilities and appears one of the less appealing places to play or attend a game, especially with knockout-round kickoffs set for 5 p.m. ET.

France, meanwhile, have 3 p.m. ET kickoffs in both New York and Boston, which does not seem ideal.

FIFA prepares for heat challenge

On the whole, it is going to get pretty toasty, and FIFA knows it.

In an effort to mitigate high temperatures and humidity in certain venues, world soccer’s governing body confirmed last December there will be two hydration breaks in each game, regardless of location, stadium roof status or temperature. The goal is to ensure equal conditions for every team across the tournament.

The breaks will take place just before the midway point of each half, around the 22-minute mark, and will last three minutes. The referee will blow the whistle to signal the start and end of each break.

The 2026 World Cup will be the first time hydration breaks are mandatory in every game. Previously, they were introduced only once a certain temperature threshold was reached or at the referee’s discretion.

FIFA has described the measure as “part of a focused attempt to ensure the best possible conditions for players, drawing upon the experiences of previous tournaments, including the recent FIFA Club World Cup.”

Commercial concerns and coaching opportunities

Broadcasters have been given permission to show advertisements during the hydration breaks, which has led to criticism that FIFA’s main motive for introducing the stoppages is commercial.

During the USMNT’s World Cup warm-up against Senegal, coach Mauricio Pochettino could be seen using the pause in play to issue instructions to his team and show players match footage on a laptop.

However, the Argentine told reporters: “I use the water break to try to help my players, but still I don’t like it.”

“If we add, add and add rules, then the soccer or the football that we know is going to stop existing. And it’s going to become another sport.”

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