Wenger Acknowledges Unpopularity of Hydration Breaks at 2026 World Cup
Arsene Wenger has stated that he recognizes the hydration breaks implemented at the 2026 World Cup have not been well-received, and FIFA will evaluate their impact after the tournament concludes.
FIFA introduced mandatory three-minute hydration breaks for all matches at stadiums in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, irrespective of the conditions.
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The organization indicated these breaks were introduced to prioritize player welfare; however, critics have highlighted that broadcasters might use the interruptions for commercial gain.
Wenger, who serves as FIFA’s head of global football development, mentioned, “sometimes people didn’t like” the hydration breaks, adding that FIFA plans to “analyze after the World Cup what the impact was.” He commented, “It didn’t look to me that it changed the results but we are here to serve people that watch football and we will come to conclusions afterwards.”
“In many games, especially when the stadium was covered, people were not happy with it but at the start of the competition it was decided to do it for everybody.”
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As the tournament progressed, fans expressed their dissatisfaction by booing the hydration breaks, indicating frustration with the interruptions.
Experts informed BBC Sport that an average 30-second ad slot during the World Cup on Fox Sports in the US costs between $200,000 (£152,000) and $300,000 (£227,000), which can rise to $750,000 (£567,000) during USA matches and the later stages of the tournament.
These breaks effectively served as tactical timeouts, allowing coaches to discuss strategy with players.
European football body UEFA has ruled out the possibility of introducing similar breaks, while England manager Thomas Tuchel admitted he is not a fan of them earlier in the tournament, stating they “interrupt and change the identity of a football match.”
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Spain manager Luis de la Fuente voiced his support for the breaks last month, stating, “I am always interested in the health of my players. I think it’s the right measure – a pause, freshen up and continue.”
Meanwhile, Wenger expressed that the expansion of the World Cup to include 48 teams instead of 32 has been a success. “It was questioned before it started but we found it was ethically needed to give a chance to more teams. I am convinced it was the right decision and it was a great success,” he said.