For the first time in the history of FIFA World Cups, mandatory three-minute cooling breaks were introduced in the middle of each half regardless of the weather. The decision was made to protect players from extreme heat in the USA, Mexico, and Canada. However, the innovation sparked criticism.
Some experts and coaches note that the stoppages disrupt the game’s rhythm and allow managers to influence the course of the match by changing the momentum of the game. Scientists, on the other hand, call the breaks too short for full recovery. Disaster research specialist Joshua DeVincenzo explained the benefit of the pauses: “We view these three-minute hydration breaks primarily as a way to prevent any situations that could lead to emergencies on the field.”
Some coaches said that the breaks make sense when the temperature is extreme, but they also questioned whether they were necessary in every match.
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