England's first match at the 2026 World Cup was booed by some fans after they beat Croatia 4-2. But not for their boo players, referees or coaches, they were upset about a new rule — the hydration break. In this tournament, play will be stopped twice per match — for three minutes between each half — for refreshments. The heat in North America has shown the need for this hydration break. Although some national team coaches welcomed the rule, fans of both England and Croatia continued to boo during hydration breaks during Wednesday's match. The main criticism of this break is that it is seen as an additional revenue stream, meaning that broadcasters will be able to show extra ads during the break. An English fan said after the match, "The only purpose of the hydration break is to make money for advertising. In this stadium I don't think there was a need for it, but if it's in a stadium that doesn't have air conditioning and it's over 90 degrees, then it's needed." Another fan said, "When you're in an air-conditioned stadium, there's no need to take a break for water. It's important to maintain the pace of the game." The hydration break now splits the game into four quarters instead of two halves, which is unacceptable to some fans. "It's putting American culture in football," said one fan.
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On the other hand, hydration breaks have gained popularity among coaches and players. They are now able to receive tactical guidance from the coaches during this break. England goalkeeper Jordan Pickford said, "When we play in New York and Boston, a hydration break will be necessary for us. The temperature is still high in the stadium, so we will take that as an advantage." "Hydration breaks are not good for television," said Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk. But Kochidera says, they do not worry about it. France coach Didier Deschamps said, "It's a new reality for us now. Instead of playing 45 minutes, the players are now ready to play 51 minutes." Some fans, however, feel that this will be added as a permanent change to the rules of football in the future. "This will become a normal thing very soon," says one fan. --- ## Related Articles 1. [New kits worn by our team: World Cup 2026 progress](https://verrikalam.com/ta/news/2026-114) 2. [Can't prove opponents - Kylian Mbappe](https://verrikalam.com/ta/news/--69)