General · 15 June 2026
World Cup drinks breaks changing how matches play
New three-minute mandatory hydration breaks at the World Cup 2026 are sparking debate, affecting tactics and game momentum. They happen 22 minutes into each half of all 104 games, intended to help players cope with heat and humidity in host nations. Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti uses them for tactical tweaks, but US women's coach Emma Hayes says they kill momentum for leading teams.
Reported by BBC · How we write briefs