For the first time, players will be required to pause twice per game, once in each half, for a three-minute water break, regardless of weather conditions or stadium location across the United States, Mexico and Canada.Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal drinks and splashes water during the FIFA World Cup 2026 international friendly match between Portugal and Nigeria at Estadio Dr.Magalhaes Pessoa in Leiria, Portugal, on June 10, 2026.
(Rodrigo Moreira/NurPhoto)Under the new format, referees will stop play at roughly the 22-minute mark of each half.Players will remain on the pitch, where they can hydrate while coaches are able to talk strategy with their team, essentially making this a timeout like us Americans are used to in our major sports.
There aren’t team-issued timeouts like in the NFL, NBA, and NHL by the way.Just a quick reminder for you Americans that only get excited about soccer when the World Cup rolls around, like myself. WATCH THE WORLD CUP FINAL ON FOX ONEAn important note is that the stoppage time will be added back at the end of each half, ensuring the total playing time remains unchanged.
FIFA has framed the change as part of its broader emphasis on player welfare, particularly given the expectation of high temperatures in several host cities during the summer tournament.I just hope European fans take much-needed water breaks in the stands too.A group of English soccer fans posted a video talking about how hot it was for the England vs.
New Zealand friendly at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, home of the Buccaneers.It’s quite funny. As for the response to FIFA’s decision, it has certainly sparked debate among fans and analysts, not only because of its impact on match rhythm, but also because it effectively standardizes interruptions that previously occurred only under extreme conditions.Critics like U.S.
men’s national team coach Mauricio Pochettino claimed the breaks "cut the rhythm of the game," which has long been defined by con...