Overview
- FIFA introduced compulsory 'pauses fraîcheur' at the 2026 World Cup that stop play once around the 22nd minute of each half for about three minutes to let players drink and cool down.
- Those pauses are not on a stopped clock so referees add the break time to stoppage time, which has already produced unusually long added-time totals in several early matches.
- Supporters loudly protested the measure during England’s match with Croatia at AT&T Stadium in Dallas on Wednesday, booing and chanting through both pauses while critics filmed the interruptions.
- Commentators and papers have pointed out that some pauses have been called in stadiums with moderate indoor temperatures, prompting criticism that the breaks fragment play and create extra windows for broadcasters to run ads.
- European bodies including the LFP and UEFA have said they will not generalise the procedure for domestic leagues, noting the Laws of the Game already permit heat breaks above about 35°C and that use should be limited to exceptional conditions.