Many soccer fans were upset that the Fox network missed out on the first match of the World Cup. During last Thursday's Mexico vs. South Africa match, Fox ran a full-screen ad during the hydration break, much to the chagrin of many viewers. After the referee called a hydration break in the second half, there was some confusion during the commercial airing. Fox shows full-screen commercials before the break ends, forcing players to wait on the field and spectators missing the game's restart. Garrett Denney, a World Cup fan, said, 'I love watching football because it provides 45 minutes of continuous entertainment. Any break, be it a hydration break or anything else, is not good for the game.' Fox has not commented on the matter. FIFA has re-introduced hydration breaks to protect players' health during the heat. In each match, the referee calls a time-out approximately 22 minutes into each half, which applies regardless of the weather.
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To air commercials, networks must leave the action on the field 20 seconds after the referee's signal and return 30 seconds before the start of the game, giving a total of two minutes of commercial time. On the other hand, the Telemundo Network has received praise from viewers for limiting advertising. While Fox ran full-screen ads during the Mexico vs. South Africa match, Telemundo kept their players on camera and cut the ads short. Many viewers praised Telemundo's approach. --- ## Related Articles 1. [Mundial 2026](https://onzeactu.com/fr/news/coupe-du-monde-2026-comment-regarder-le-match-nouvelle-zelande-vs-iran-a-la-tv-et-en-streaming) 2. [Mundial 2026](https://quinasgoal.com/noticias/como-assistir-ao-jogo-ecuador-vs-costa-do-marfim-na-copa-do-mundo-2026-canal-de-tv-e-opcoes-de-streaming)