Why FIFA’s ‘hydration break’ sham is working out for the Socceroos

June 7, 2026 — 7:30pm

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San Diego: It would be difficult to imagine a more perfect day for football. The midday sun was shining at Snapdragon Stadium in San Diego on Sunday (AEST) – but at a pleasant 22 degrees, not too harshly. The sky was clear and blue.

Then, for no reason at all, the game stopped at the 23-minute mark. It was time for a drink.

Thanks to FIFA’s decision to insert three-minute “hydration breaks” in the middle of each half of every match at the World Cup, the Socceroos and their Swiss rivals were permitted a short breather, even though they didn’t actually need one.

Get used to this absurdity.

Officially, this is happening because many games during this North American summer will be played in conditions hot enough to trigger the sport’s heat policy – and since FIFA, in classic FIFA style, just wants to be fair and reasonable to everyone, it was decided the same conditions would apply for every match, no matter the weather. Even if it’s only 22 degrees. Player welfare comes first.

Truthfully, these hydration breaks are........

© Brisbane Times