According to BBC co-commentator Stephen Warnock during Iraq vs Norway, the introduction of mandatory three-minute hydration breaks at World Cup 2026 is to the detriment of the game.
Throughout the first week of the tournament, players have been able to take on fluids while absorbing tactical information from their managers too. That’s what half time is for, said Warnock, and hydration breaks should be 45-second affairs with drinks lined up on the opposite side of the pitch.
