"The 2026 FIFA World Cup was the hottest World Cup since the competition began in 1930. A Guardian analysis found that close to 20 percent of matches were played under heat and humidity conditions that FIFPRO, the players' union, has flagged as dangerous enough to warrant delaying or postponing play. Some 20 games were played at wet bulb globe temperatures that hit or exceeded 28 degrees Celsius (82 Fahrenheit)." - Katharine Hayhoe's newsletter
I agree that something must be done, but the hydration break is the wrong solution for two reasons.
First, plenty of countries have been regularly playing under these conditions and will keep doing so after the World Cup. Too hot to play in the afternoon? Play at night.
Second, and more important, it changes the game in a major way because playing for 90 minutes with a single break is not the same as playing with three. I imagine data will say whether this has an effect or not, but I cannot imagine that an endurance player would feel the same if they have to always stop halfway.
Thing is this is a technical justification for something that was done purely to add an extra add break in - there is no point in having the technical discussion.
The problem I had with this World Cup was the over commercialization of it. The ticket prices, the cost of getting to the stadiums, the fucking trophy being presented in some bullshit LV case (like it mattered).
From my perspective I let it slide thinking it was the US’s take on how they do sports so fair enough. I can see now following the hyper commercial US World Cup that FIFAs has dollar signs spinning in their eyes and want to continue this way of working.
Unfortunately it doesn’t align with the values of football. It smacks of the Euro Super League (which would have disrupted the whole pyramid of football). It should be nipped in the bud, Infantino fired, and FIFA continuing as a not for profit.
"The 2026 FIFA World Cup was the hottest World Cup since the competition began in 1930. A Guardian analysis found that close to 20 percent of matches were played under heat and humidity conditions that FIFPRO, the players' union, has flagged as dangerous enough to warrant delaying or postponing play. Some 20 games were played at wet bulb globe temperatures that hit or exceeded 28 degrees Celsius (82 Fahrenheit)." - Katharine Hayhoe's newsletter