World Cup games to be extended by six minutes - here's why

Martin Macdonald

• Updated: 8 Dec 2025 08:22 CST
• 4 min read

Nieuws

The 2026 World Cup will take place next summer across the United States, Canada and Mexico and some of the matches will be played in extreme heat.

The group stage in June through to the final in July is, obviously, during height of summer in these nations and concerns have been raised about the wellbeing of the players on the pitch.

The Club World Cup in the summer of 2025 was a bit of a logistical dress rehearsal for the World Cup and during that tournament, players and coaches complained about the heat.

During Juventus' clash with Real Madrid in Miami, head coach Igor Tudor said ten of his players asked to be substituted with temperatures reaching 30°C and humidity 70 per cent, while Dortmund boss Niko Kovac said he was "sweating like I've just come out of a sauna" during the victory over Mamelodi Sundowns.

Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca joined the chorus of complaints. Ahead of Chelsea's Group D match against Esperance in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the Blues boss said: "It is almost impossible to train or to make a session because of the weather. Now, we are trying just to save energy for the game."

"I had to lie down on the ground because I was really dizzy," added Enzo Fernandez after Chelsea's semi-final at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

"Playing in this temperature is very dangerous!"

That time Vitor Roque sat next to the cooling fan during the Botafogo–Palmeiras match in Philadelphia during the cooling break because it was too hot ☀️😅 pic.twitter.com/mXbW7KtqHq

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 6, 2025

Most afternoon games in the World Cup will be played in air-conditioned, roofed stadiums or in cities with temperate climates.

But, FIFA have confirmed that a three-minute hydration break will take place in each half so that players can rest and recover from the heat before play recommences.

That's an extra six minutes added, at least, for each match of the World Cup.

It's been said that FIFA have added this measure purely for the wellbeing of the players, but there are other ramifications.

The three-minute break will allow for managers to get their players in a huddle to talk tactics, while, yes, it is likely we'll get advertisements in these slots depending on the broadcaster.

Effectively, the game has been put into four quarters like a NFL or Basketball match.

Normally, there are only cooling breaks during a game if there is intense heat, but FIFA have put a blanket rule over every match so no matter the temperature or the time of day, there will be a break in each half.

“There will be no weather or temperature condition in place, with the breaks being called by the referee in all games, to ensure equal conditions for all teams, in all matches,” FIFA said in a release posted online late Sunday night.

The match clock will not be stopped, but three minutes will be added on at the end of each half, not including added time for other incidents.

There are some who question whether these breaks will even benefit the players, however.

“Cooling breaks at the 30th minute and 75th minute are quite traditional, but from a physiological point of view it does not make sense,” Vincent Gouttebarge, FIFPRO’s medical director, told reporters during the Club World Cup.

“Even if you ingest more than 200 milliliters of fluid, you already cannot take it all. So I would definitely like to see some project where we look at the efficacy of perhaps more frequent but shorter cooling breaks — every 15 minutes, rather than only one during each half.”

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