2026 World Cup to Feature Mandatory Hydration Breaks

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FIFA has confirmed recently that 2026 World Cup matches will feature mandatory hydration breaks, sparking uncertainty among fans over the policy’s true purpose. 

A New Format

Each hydration break is set to last three minutes and will happen on the 22-minute mark of each game, dividing matches into ‘quarters’ similar to the format seen in American major sports leagues like the NBA or NFL.

Chief Tournament Officer, Manolo Zubiria, explained the logistics behind the new format in an announcement made at the World Broadcaster Meeting in Washington DC over the weekend.

“For every game, no matter where the games are played, no matter if there’s a roof, (or) temperature-wise, there will be a three-minute hydration break. It will be three minutes from whistle to whistle in both halves,” he said via press release.

Addressing Player Welfare Concerns

With the tournament due to be held across Mexico, USA and Canada next summer, several concerns have been raised over game conditions and player welfare while playing in extreme heat. 

During the Club World Cup last summer, hydration breaks were also used during matches played in high temperatures. The difference going into next summer’s World Cup, however, is that the breaks will come regardless of temperature or weather during the match. Despite FIFA affirming that the decision has been made with the players’ welfare in mind, speculation has spread among fans that the move is purely revenue-driven. 

A Commercial Opportunity But at What Cost?

A three-minute gap during matches leaves plenty of opportunity for broadcasters to implement lucrative commercial breaks. During the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the cost of a 30-second spot during the halftime break reached just over AUD 1,100,000 (£550,000). 

With the 2026 World Cup due to host an increased pool of teams (48 instead of the previous 32), the economic opportunities presented to broadcasters are undeniable. As fans from across the world tune in to one of the most anticipated World Cup tournaments to date, many will not find the same free-flowing live games they have seen in previous years. 

When the action is uninterrupted and the atmosphere is allowed to build momentum, football thrives. And although player welfare is a crucial factor when planning major tournaments, implementing mandatory breaks may only impair the experience for fans and players alike.

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Football NSW calls on clubs to Make It Red for Heart Health Round

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Football NSW is calling on clubs and associations across the state to register for the 2026 Make It Red campaign, joining a national awareness movement aimed at reducing heart-related deaths on sporting grounds ahead of Heart Health Round on the weekend of June 5 to 7.

The campaign, developed by the Heartbeat of Football Foundation, asks sporting clubs to wear red, raise funds and build awareness around heart disease and sudden cardiac arrest, which is the leading single cause of disease burden and death in Australia for both men and women, and one that health authorities say is largely preventable through modifiable risk factors.

The call to action comes as the Foundation continues its work to map and register Automated External Defibrillators across NSW sporting facilities, a project that has already engaged twelve football associations and fed data into both the NSW Ambulance GoodSAM registry and NSW Health’s public AED map. The availability of a functioning, registered AED on site is among the most significant determinants of survival following sudden cardiac arrest, with survival rates declining sharply for every minute without defibrillation.

Football NSW is encouraging clubs to engage with the campaign across three areas. Clubs can register for the Make It Red campaign to help fund research, education and prevention programs. Participants, particularly those aged over 35, are encouraged to seek a free heart health screening test from their local GP or enquire about hosting a Heartbeat of Football testing day. Clubs are also urged to ensure their grounds have active, accessible AEDs in place, with guidance available through Football NSW’s Rescue Ready Guide.

The Make It Red campaign runs from June 5 to July 12, with Heart Health Round taking place across the opening weekend. Clubs can register and access participation resources at makeitred.org.

Community Spirit Shines on AFC Grassroots Football Day 2026

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This week, Football Australia (FA) celebrated AFC Grassroots Football Day 2026, championing the people and communities who continue to hold up a safe, inclusive and supportive environment in the football landscape.

‘For all, for life’

In collaboration with Football NSW, Canterbury Football Association and community club, Balmain & District Football Club, the day reflected the very best of what football provides.

The event brought in participants of all ages – from 4-74 years-old – and reached a total of 400 people. Girls-only programs, all-abilities sessions and over-age football ensured all were catered for.

Such a diverse range of participants builds on a wider drive during FIFA World Football Week, which seeks to promote the sport not just as the dazzling lights of 100,000-seater stadiums, but as a way to foster community spirit and social development.

Furthermore, FA support through its Club Changer program was a welcome addition to the action, emphasising the organisation’s commitment to nurture a real love for the game across communities in Australia.

“Through Club Changer we support our clubs to provide a safe, fun and enjoyable environment where everyone is welcome; whether that be as a player, volunteer, referee or supporter,” explained National Program Manager Club Development at FA, Grace Lambourne.

“Everyone should feel they belong and are welcome to play, stay, and love the game.”

 

A welcome celebration

While the upcoming FIFA World Cup will no doubt inspire millions of future Socceroos and Matildas, events like the AFC Grassroots Football Day represent something beyond just inspiration.

It is a platform. An opportunity to express a love for football and to connect with others while doing so.

And connections between the professional and grassroots game is more important than ever if Australia is to nurture the next generation of talent.

This is particularly clear in the rise of women’s football across the nation. Since the FIFA Women’s World Cup, female participation rose by 32%, and registrations for the MiniTillies Program skyrocketed from 264 in 2023, to 1223 in 2024.

The professionals spark passion. But communities turn that passion into playing time.

That is why celebrating grassroots football – and the volunteers and families who sustain it – is a vital part of Australia’s football future. Together, FA and the AFC are creating strong foundations built on positivity, engagement, and inclusivity for all with a love for the beautiful game.

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