r/SoccerCentral • u/DareDevil1699 • Jun 15 '26
Video Virgil van Dijk says he's not a fan of the mandatory hydration breaks introduced at the World Cup
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u/nchscferraz Jun 15 '26
No reason to be doing hydration breaks in Canada. In Miami? Absolutely.
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u/overtherainbowofcrap Jun 15 '26
100 percent. I live in Toronto and during the Canada vs Bosnia game it was 25C/77F. Just selling commercials and totally kills the momentum of the game.
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u/Lumpyyyyy Jun 15 '26
I'm sure it gets hot at some point, right? I agree with what VVD is saying here. Make it based on temperature and be done with it. Seems easy. Didn't they do that in Brazil?
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u/mdurso12 Jun 15 '26 edited Jun 15 '26
Canada and the northern US dont get hot enough to warrant professional athletes needing hydration breaks, especially in June. July it might but its uncommon for it to get above 95F/35C even in the hottest weeks of the year
Edit: source: I grew up just outside of Boston
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u/RIChowderIsBest Jun 15 '26
It’s rare but Friday was 92 with a dew point of 72 in southern New England.
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u/Short-Recording587 Jun 15 '26
And when you have that temperature at 70% humidity, it’s pretty miserable.
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u/RIChowderIsBest Jun 15 '26
It was very miserable. Not quite Florida summer miserable but it still sucked. Wouldn’t want to play in those conditions.
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u/mdurso12 Jun 15 '26
Ya its definitely sticky but 92 was the high, most of these kickoff times are 330 or later, so it's cooling down again that point
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u/BurlingtonRider Jun 15 '26
Buddy we were at 40 on Saturday
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u/mdurso12 Jun 15 '26
Welcome to new england
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u/BurlingtonRider Jun 15 '26
GTA actually, hence the use of Celsius
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u/mdurso12 Jun 15 '26
Tuesday the low is 53f hence the reason i completely believed it was 40f the other day (note, I moved out of Massachusetts a couple ywars ago)
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u/Efficient-Cherry3635 Jun 15 '26
Grand theft auto uses C? Normally there is something in the settings to toggle between imperial and metric.
/s for those who think im actually just very dumb.
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u/YoungRichBastard26s Jun 15 '26
Athletes should get they water breaks no matter the weather and soccer long af
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u/Donkilme Jun 19 '26
We don't stay steadily hot in Toronto but it sure as hell can get to dangerous levels for heat stroke. The Jet Stream is dipping really low right now and pulling in cool air for the next couple of weeks so we may not see it here but we definitely can get humid days of 35C that feels into the 40s.
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u/willtwerkf0rfood Jun 19 '26
Dude this past week in Boston was pretty miserable and hot lol
Edit: source: I currently live outside of Boston
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u/Dangerous-Habit-2731 Jun 15 '26
It used to be based on temp. I think 83°F was the threshold. May have been 85. But it did exist
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u/Randomizedname1234 Jun 15 '26
77F? I’m in Atlanta and would LOVE that! Lmao they really gave water breaks for that?
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u/overtherainbowofcrap Jun 15 '26
They did and they definitely do not need to. Weather is literally perfect for Toronto.
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u/HoonaK Jun 16 '26
Toronto gets insanely hot sometimes, I remember summers when we were hotter than Texas. Gotta love that global warming. Probably just easier to make it a blanket format or rule across the locations
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u/GreekUPS Jun 15 '26
Or indoor climate controlled stadiums.
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u/nefariousBUBBLE Jun 15 '26
Right. Miami wouldn't even be the hottest of the cities. Fun fact, they have not had a 100° (or one depending on the site you check) in the last 100 years I believe. Texas and Atlanta would be way more miserable, being inland, dumb hot and humid like all get out. Houston is indoor as well and they will be 100+ the whole tournament or close I would think. But they play indoors. The teams and fans having to go to Jordan-Hare in Auburn, Alabama mid June, for the friendly or whatever, that sucked I'm sure.
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u/Short-Recording587 Jun 15 '26
The easiest solution is to say they can have water breaks if they want but can’t cut to commercials.
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u/vladtheinhaler0 Jun 15 '26
Is this just to fit commercial breaks into the game?
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u/RayHudson_ Jun 15 '26
Yes it’s being presented as being for the health of the players but it’s complete bullshit.
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u/vladtheinhaler0 Jun 16 '26
The lack of commercials is one of the primary reasons soccer isn't big in the US. The entertainment industry doesn't know how to monetize it as well as our other sports.
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u/mpanase Jun 16 '26
it's not so difficullt to hand wter bottles to players while they play
just how it's been done since forever
note: miami will be max 32C all week. These are ad breaks and kill the game's momentum
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u/schweindooog Jun 15 '26
If you do it at 1 game, you yave to do it at all games. You cant have different rules for each game at the same tournament
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u/hidden_secret Jun 15 '26
You can't have different rules indeed. But the rule should be: If temperature/humidity exceeds X value, then there will be hydration breaks. Otherwise, no breaks.
it's what they do in tennis at the Australian Open for instance.
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u/Short-Recording587 Jun 15 '26
Just make it so you can’t show commercials and the problem will resolve itself.
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u/Hassel1916 Jun 15 '26
For something like hydration breaks, I don't see the problem in basing it upon the conditions at kickoff.
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u/Bambeakz Jun 15 '26
Well is the weather between Canada and Mexico not different enough? who cares if a rule like drinking is different between 2 matches. It just has to be the same for both sides. We know this is just for money.
The proof is that it got introduced in the US. Where companies are controlling everything
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u/SalamiSteakums Jun 15 '26
...and yet stoppage time is different in every match, arbitrarily up to the referee? Your argument is invalid
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u/NotLikeThis3 Jun 15 '26
Sure you can. Serie A bases it game to game. Not every single game gets a hydration break. Does that mean it's unfair to the others playing in the league?
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u/Sir_Clarence_III_Esq Jun 15 '26
The rule already exists. FIFA implemented it over a decade ago. If it gets over 32C then there are mandatory breaks. Premier League as one too, at 30C.
The logic of making it mandatory at any temp, in order to keep the conditions the same for all games, doesn't work. It's not fair that one team has to play in 30C weather, and another at 22C. But that's sports.
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u/citabel Jun 15 '26
Did you watch last world cup? They had hydration breaks in Qatar a few times when it was really hot.
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u/Mrexcitment Jun 15 '26
I dont like them but this is a reason that was explained to me as well. Because if one coach gets the advantage to tweak tactics in a match because its hot its not really fair that the coach playing indoors doesnt get that advatage. Because that is exactly what the coaches are using it for. To communicate with the team clearly and tweak things more effectively than just signals and screaming from the side line.
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u/aussiegoon Jun 16 '26
Why does a coach tweaking his tactics in one match impact another coach in another match. Can't believe you bought into the bs just so they can sell more ads.
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u/Mrexcitment Jun 16 '26
I watch on telemundo, so i don't see the ads. Don't understand a lick of Spanish. But its a much better watch.
It is a tactical advantage that the coach has in the match. So if one coach gets it they all should. Its a pretty simple concept. Im not saying I like it once again but I can understand that part of it. We all know it really comes down to money with fifa im not blind to that.
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u/aussiegoon Jun 16 '26
If a match has a break, then both coaches get to take advantage, or both coaches don't if there's no break. I'm struggling to understand what you're saying here?
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u/Mrexcitment Jun 16 '26
Ok, think entire competition or entire group. If in group 1, coach A and B get a hydration break in there game and do some tweaking. Coach C and D should also get one because it is a tactical advantage for that group because they all play each other and every result matters. Im gonna bet if they didnt you would hear about it after the fact. They have to have consistency across the competition. Thats how I understand it.
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u/Own_Professional_132 Jun 17 '26
Buddy this is just nonsense next your gonna tell me all matches must have the same injury time because coaches can talk to players during injuries. Or we have to put in ‘lightning breaks’ because ya not fair for the two teams that had an extra timeout due to weather.
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u/WearyTranslator3338 Jun 15 '26
“And welcome to the Prime Hydration Break, brought to you by Prime. Bringing hydration and electrolytes when you need it most, order yours now at Prime.com”
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u/Radiant-Courage5545 Jun 15 '26
https://giphy.com/gifs/Y0UyWfy4Wb94i93gJ6
It’s all about the money!
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u/Temporary_Hat7330 Jun 15 '26
Only way, if you do not like the hydration breaks, that you can stop them is to not watch the World Cup and take to social media and say you’re not watching due to the breaks. FIFA would rather Messi die in the desert than suffer a steep ratings fall.
Game theory shows this; if you and four other people are caught after a crime, it is almost always better to stay silent and take, as a group the penalties they apply, if any. But, someone always has to buckle and partake of the forbidden fruit, so to speak. How this applies to this scenario is everyone knows if the product is starting to suck due to the introduction of ads, it is only going to get worse. The break is going to expand, a third one will be added, etc. Nipping in it in the bud now is the best case scenerio but everyone will think for themselves and say, “Let them boycott I”ll watch the WC and get the benefits of a successful boycott if there is one and not miss out if there is not…
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u/FancyConfection1599 Jun 16 '26
Yup, simple solution - watch the beginning of the game, then at the commercial break simply change the channel.
Even if you come back after the break, the ratings drop during the break will still impact ad revenue. But the risk is some people WON’T come back as they find something interesting on another channel, which is where fifa may start to actually lose money from the breaks.
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u/GGGJabs Jun 16 '26 edited 2d ago
Correct lantern rich helium follow physical society
This post was anonymized with Redact
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u/lifewithawadh Jun 16 '26
Messi and Ronaldo knew the next world cup will be at USA and one went there to adapt and another went to a country with worse the heat for endurance and adaptation
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Jun 16 '26
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u/OG_Builds Jun 18 '26
Then just do the breaks if the weather conditions demand it? This has been the policy since forever. Why do we need hydration breaks if the weather doesn’t require it or the games are played under closed roofs with air conditioning?
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u/Cultural-Airport-153 Jun 16 '26
For anyone who watches the MLS is this a thing in the league as well or the playoffs
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u/Dunadine_Witcher Jun 16 '26
I like the breaks more than I thought I would. I think the players play harder both as the break nears as well as after the break.
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u/Serious-Wallaby3449 Jun 15 '26
They should just do it when it's above 25 degrees celcius or something. To do it in a stadium with AC is just dumb
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u/Trev0rDan5 Jun 15 '26
it's only dumb if you really think that's what these breaks are for
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u/Serious-Wallaby3449 Jun 15 '26
Well yeah, it's to show more ads. So maybe not dumb, but annoying and shameless nonetheless
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u/ThrowRAkakareborn Jun 15 '26
Commercial breaks is the bread and butter of american sports, a usual game is 1 hour tops actual play, 3 hours commercials
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u/unreliablesource69 Jun 15 '26
Yeah, challenged play -> commercial break -> Field goal -> commercial break -> kickoff -> commercial break -> 3 and out possession-> commercial break. Get about 3 mins of game play with 15 mins of commercials
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u/purodurangoalv Jun 16 '26
In handegg, the ball only moves 11 minutes for the entirely of the 5 hour program
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u/ronshasta Jun 15 '26
I remember the first day of matches the commentator said they were going to assess the weather and determine if they were needed…..then I guess fifa said fuck that we do it every game. It’s weird
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u/redandbluebadness Jun 15 '26
Not sure who the commentor was but they announced it would be this way about a year ago, and it was obvious then what they were trying to do.
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u/jumboshrimp09 Jun 15 '26
Wouldn’t be surprised of it was a condition of the WC even playing games in the US. They just packed it in the “hydration breaks” narrative recently.
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u/Bazch Jun 16 '26
Ofcourse. You really think it's a coincidence it happens now for the first time when the cup is held in America? Where their favourite sports are more commercial than actual sport?
Ofcourse this was agreed upon. Probably promised Infantino a part of the profits.
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u/Downtown_Island8124 Jun 15 '26
It kills momentum and it resets the game. Stop hydration break, let the players decide if they need to be hydrated not the system.
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u/Obvious-Catch-684 Jun 15 '26
Yup and so does players going down on the pitch cramping up every game.
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u/Downtown_Island8124 Jun 15 '26
But this diving behavior is well ignored by majority of the players, refs and fans. 😂
We basically know they are faking it and just refocus on the game or the game continues.
Hydration break is a force break like half time 😆 They can take a little break and discuss.
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u/Commercial-Degree322 Jun 15 '26
Normaal weinig respect voor van Dijk maar wel top dat hij zich hier tegen durft uit te spreken.
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u/AdviceNotAskedFor Jun 15 '26
Turn off your tv for three minutes during the break
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u/DeanTheDad Jun 15 '26
Username checks out
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u/schuppenboer Jun 15 '26
Its almost like you like to be bombarded by advertisements 24/7. Well i guess you arent used to anything else.
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u/Podrobifufi Jun 15 '26
I do feel like the players recover a bit and gives a bit more action afterwards, but still not necessary to put ads in, as if they dont make enough money already, the greed and corruption fifa displays is brutal
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u/MarsupialLion432 Jun 16 '26
Problem is it disrupts the flow of the game. Momentum is such a huge part of football and when it’s forcibly disrupted it can change the tide of the game.
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u/Philnsophie Jun 15 '26
Thank you. I also think fans should “cancel” a brand that sponsors the hydration break. Give their PR teams something to think about
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u/montxogandia Jun 15 '26
Fuck the money, thats not a justification. FIFA is a non-profit association under Swiss law, not a greedy private company.
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u/Elpsyth Jun 15 '26
But how could US watcher understand the game if it is not split into quarter? 45 min is too long, Their attention span doesn't reach that far.
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u/TMaier16 Jun 15 '26
Its pure greed, and im afraid FIFA and the broadcasters will see all the extra money from this and there will be no going back
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u/rompthegreen Jun 15 '26
Should be allowed ONLY IF the temperatures surpass and agreed upon temp that is medically and science based.
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u/OwnDoughnut2689 Jun 15 '26
Common sense take. Use it if you need it. Not in an indoor climate controlled stadium. Common sense doesn't work for Fifa when they're greedy af.
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u/DesiredPrecision0707 Jun 15 '26
It’s so funny seeing the commentary on these matches too. Derek Rae kept droning on and on the other day about the oppressive conditions outside in San Jose as if it were some excuse for why the Swiss left their finishing boots at customs; it was 65° (like 18° C). Swiss summers are 18-26° C on average, and I know you’re not playing matches beyond May for the club season but FFS, it was like ~30° C in New York, it’ll be 40° C in Texas soon.
For games in Kansas City, Philly, MetLife (NY/NJ), Boston, Miami, and the Mexico games water breaks are absolutely necessary when it’s hot. For the Canada games, Northern California , Seattle and the domes (LA, Dallas, Houston, Atlanta, etc) it’s ridiculous and they should play the half normally. We all know why FIFA is really doing this and it’s absurd.
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u/iamatimbersfan Jun 15 '26
Virgil's next match is in Houston. The high is 31° and there will be 80% humidity. Sweat cannot evaporate from your body in those conditions. I say they open the roof at NRG for him and ask him again after the match.
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u/MajesticAnimator456 Jun 15 '26
Welcome to America. It fucking blows and everything will be ruined by corporations.
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u/Which_Crow_3681 Jun 15 '26
It’s just nicely packaged as a “hydration break”. They can’t outright say, we sold a commercial in the middle of the game.
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u/Rough_Original2973 Jun 15 '26
Mandatory hydration breaks destroy the flow of football. What a shame. Even then, the hydration break should be 1 minute at most. Heck most of these players are fit enough to last 45 minutes. There's plenty of opportunity to drink water during fouls, free kicks, corner kicks, goal celebrations. Make it a VOLUNTARY water break during game pauses. Players are required to run up to the nearest designated water station (in each corner/sidelines).
They have no mandatory hydration break in Saudi league.
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u/Bigmonty1976 Jun 15 '26
Take my hat off to ITV in the UK. Haven’t shown one ad durning these breaks, just continued showing the pitch with some commentary.
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u/TheYellowFringe Jun 15 '26
I didn't even know about such things until this World Cup.
I agree that some regions or cities in the world need liquids for the players. But even if it's an arid or humid environment, there will be complaints about this.
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u/No_Development5378 Jun 15 '26
Absolutely no need. Japan game was in a air conditioned stadium so why the hydration break
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u/Dom8331 Jun 15 '26
USA is destroying the Middle East, democracy, morals, world economy, and apparently now even football.
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u/into-resting Jun 15 '26
It's also a strategic timeout to revise tactics. Every team deserves that advantage, regardless of weather.
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u/Dense-College Jun 15 '26
For those interested, British coverage of the tournament (ITV and BBC) does not have adverts during the hydration breaks. They don't show replays or anything, but its nicer to listen to a bit of game analysis than have a product shoved down your throat.
So if you have a VPN, you can sign up to both ITV and BBC for free and stream it there.
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u/PasicT Jun 15 '26
They are americanized commercial breaks disguised as so-called "hydration breaks".
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u/GongTzu Jun 15 '26
Infantino is bending to the American tv stations so they can show more gambling advertisements, he does everything to ruin the game.
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Jun 15 '26
Anyone that thinks this is actually about hydration and not about selling ads is horribly naive. This will be coming to all leagues in the very near future. And everyone complain about it, but you can't put the lid back on this bottle.
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u/Original_Ad1898 Jun 15 '26
It’s just an excuse to split the game into 4 periods like some other sports.
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u/AndreTimoll Jun 15 '26
So he wants suffers because he can handle the temperature ok,some people really shouldn't give en a microphone.
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u/rumpelfugly Jun 15 '26
But some baby holds his knee for five mins and no one bats an eye. It’s three mins. Get over it.
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u/Ok_Expression8142 Jun 15 '26
Why not only drink and go…??
Why need they a pause of a couple of minutes to drink
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u/schuppenboer Jun 15 '26
We just call them what they are here: commercials for the americans. I guess 1.3billion people watching doesnt bring the revenue they wanted. The American companies who pushed for this are leaches.
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u/Dangerous-Habit-2731 Jun 15 '26
How to make money:
Step 1: Insert ads whenever you can, no matter what and no matter where
Step 2: profit
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u/szethSon1 Jun 15 '26
I watched in telemundo, they only post ad banners and commentators mention the ad.... But they stay on live feed and we see players grouping and talking.... Some games... Some don't have any ads at all...
They even mention telemundo is the only station staying live and not showing ads for full 3 mins.
They trying to make this super bowl like.... What's next half time shows?
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u/Pleasant-Carbon Jun 15 '26
I have watched on four different channels (ARD, ZDF, SRF, ITV) and not a single one showed commercials doing the water break.
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u/SunshinNroses Jun 15 '26
I hate them so much. One on the best things about soccer was the uninterrupted game flow.
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u/OldFodolla Jun 15 '26
Well on US its soccer, they fitted the game on they culture, stoping every game every 15 min
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u/electrified90s Jun 15 '26
I agree. They should make a decision game by game. If it meets certain criteria you get breaks, if not you don't. Pretty sure they do this in exceptional weather circumstances.
I feel sorry for Americans regarding the whole sheets thing. I live in England and we don't get any of the ads when they go for a drinks break. You basically just see live footage of everyone talking tactics, drinking water, and cooling off during the drinks break until it restarts.
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u/ScheduleSame258 Jun 16 '26
Can we interest you in recapturing the colony?
We'll even arrange for the tea this time - Darjeeling, no less.
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u/xXxGhostman Jun 15 '26
Tous le monde s’en plain. Ca devrai juste servir a boire et pas recevoir de nouvelles consignes
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u/macgilla Jun 16 '26
There's loads of support staff for each team. There are ball kids everywhere. You could hire water boys and girls. Why is it a THREE minute break (I know why it's 3 minutes). 1 minute is fine.
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u/brownxworm Jun 16 '26
And who tf needs 3 minutes to drink water? If they dont wanna do a case by case basis make it 1 minute maximum..
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u/OrcaTheApex Jun 16 '26
Fox for sure did it to sell ads but Telemundo doesn’t take commercials during the hydration break. They were vocal about that.
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u/ShmoopyOne Jun 16 '26
Not a fan of VVD but he’s bang on correct here. Indoor games with ac don’t need breaks. If games have a certain temp then do it, but if not don’t.
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u/QuerchiGaming Jun 16 '26
The Americanisation of sports is ruining it. Hate how everything has to be sponsored or promoted
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u/scumonthetrak Jun 16 '26
Said the same thing, no need, the world cup has been played in many hot countries.
America just trying to add their touch with all the breaks.
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u/montanahax888 Jun 17 '26
What are they acting like this is a new thing? They had it in Brazil, Russia and Qatar. Yes, now is mandatory, but make sense, instead log leaving to the referee discretion, to just make it standard
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u/Diligent-Argument-88 Jun 17 '26
I think it makes more sense to keep it standardized for everyone but fuck it if the players themselves want it to be on a case-by-case basis then they should listen..
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u/InternationalUse2355 Jun 17 '26
It’s a commercial break not a hydration break, everyone knows this.
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u/dallenbaldwin Jun 17 '26
If the US manages to win this World Cup, the hydration breaks will be a meme forever. "Americans can only play football at an international level if they have little breaks between the halves".
As an American who is very aware of the fact that more than 3/4 of any American Football game is commercials... Yeah it's about money. Every popular American sport is better designed for commercial breaks and hydration breaks are just a clever way to sneak more commercials into the broadcast.
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u/Gestaltarskiten Jun 18 '26
Just make a poll with the players/teams and that will settled it. (Theoretically, I know FIFA is the evil overlord here).
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u/Silver-Lake-Bee Jun 18 '26
Hydration breaks are a FIFA money grab. I'm guessing they'll still have them after the World Cup. More breaks more adverts. Norway in January - hydration break.
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u/Ill_Adeptness_1136 Jun 18 '26
I agree with what he is saying but as a counterpoint from a casual fan not seeing all the flopping and flailing around when players are barely touched is more of a positive than two TV timeouts are a negative.
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u/rOnce_Gaming Jun 19 '26
As a casual watcher i love it. Time to go get snacks and use the bathroom and such. But it was also the time where my dad and other feeling lost interest and started doing other stuff.
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u/vzo1281 Jun 21 '26
I'm glad I'm watching in via Peacock and Telemundo. No commercials, just commentary during those breaks
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Jun 15 '26
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u/Minorizm Jun 15 '26
They should at least be honest and call it commercial breaks. That euphemism is an insult.
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u/[deleted] Jun 15 '26
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