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By Megan Armstrong
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The hydration break has become the universal antagonist of the 2026 FIFA men's World Cup.
From a football (or soccer, since we're in North America) purist standpoint, the beautiful game is meant to be played in two halves. The run of play is not designed for four quarters.
But FIFA implemented a hydration break 22 minutes into each half for this World Cup — "for every game, no matter where the games are played, no matter if there's a roof, temperature-wise, there will be a three-minute hydration break," per Chief Tournament Officer, USA, Manolo Zubiria.
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Yes, of course, in the inhumane heat of summer, a hydration break is appropriate. But at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, a dome, in Atlanta? C'mon.
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According to Meghan L. Hall of USA Today, 67,442 fans attending Czechia and South Africa's match at Mercedes-Benz Stadium heavily booed one of the two hydration breaks.
During the match, the crowd erupted when Michal Sadílek put Czechia up 1-0 in the sixth minute and again when Teboho Mokoena scored an 83rd-minute penalty kick to equalize — the first South African goal at a men's World Cup in 16 years, per B/R Football.
The match ended in a 1-1 draw, all but guaranteeing that neither Czechia (1 point) nor South Africa (1 point) will escape the group stage. Mexico and South Korea each have 3 points entering their matchup with each other at Estadio Akron in Guadalajara, Mexico on Thursday night. See the full group stage standings here.
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