New Delhi: Football, hitherto described as a “game of two halves”, is set for a new narrative as the sport’s governing body FIFA has introduced a three-minute hydration break between each half of every match in 2026. FIFA World Cupmake it a move that divides the match into four quarters, essentially like the host United States’ NBA and NFL.Previous World Cups also had cooling breaks, but only when temperatures rose above a certain level. But this time, regardless of the weather, whether it’s a scorching Houston afternoon or a chilly Vancouver evening, the referees will stop play around the 22nd and 67th minutes. This effectively divides football into four distinct divisions, closely mirroring the structure of sports such as hockey and basketball (NBA).With a three-minute break, coaches will now have plenty of time to issue fresh instructions, put players under pressure or make tactical changes that could affect the game on the pitch. But in a move to commercial advantage, FIFA has allowed television networks to air mid-game commercials during these mandatory stoppages. The rules are carefully framed by the governing body. If broadcasters use split-screen coverage and show the match, only FIFA partners and official World Cup sponsors may advertise. The adjustment guarantees an unprecedented 624 extra minutes of downtime across the tournament’s 104 matches, adding more than 10 hours of extra broadcast buffer. That’s enough time to play seven full-time football games.The move, which mirrors the American-style advertiser-friendly model of NBA and NFL games, has drawn mixed reactions from coaches around the world. USA head coach Mauricio Pochettino expressed his disappointment, saying, “To be honest, I don’t like it. I don’t like it because I think you cut the rhythm of the game. I think when you play in an open stadium, maybe yes, we should take care of the health of the players. But in this type of stadium (the Atlanta venue) when it’s 21, 22, 23 degrees, I think it’s the best time and weather to play. It worries me a bit, but this is the new rule we need to accept.” While Belgium head coach Rudy Garcia favored the rule, “I like (them) because it’s an opportunity for our coaches to talk with the team, to talk about strategy and planning. It was great and interesting to talk with the team during these breaks. With entertainment at its core, the World Cup final at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium will feature an epic Super Bowl-esque halftime show, extending the traditional 15-minute interval to nearly 30 minutes.But this is not the policy that FIFPro and other players called for earlier last year to protect players from the rising heat. This certainly opens up football to more commercialisation. And if that wasn’t enough, TV partners will have the luxury of showing three opening ceremonies in Mexico, Canada and the United States. Simply put, the World Cup is bigger, louder and made for American TV.
