Mandatory cooling breaks instituted by FIFA for all matches during the 2026 World Cup have drawn mixed reactions, with some fans criticizing the pauses as unnecessary interruptions, particularly in venues with climate-controlled environments. The tournament, hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, marks the first time such breaks have been required regardless of temperature conditions.

During the recent England-Croatia match at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas—a dome stadium with internal temperatures near 70 degrees—some spectators expressed frustration over the breaks, questioning their need given the controlled climate. One fan remarked on the irony of pausing play in a temperature-regulated setting, especially as outdoor conditions were significantly hotter.

However, medical experts emphasize the importance of these breaks for player safety, particularly in light of increasingly extreme heat conditions tied to climate change. Dr. Bert Mandelbaum, chief medical officer for the U.S. men’s soccer team and vice chair of orthopedic surgery at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, highlighted the physiological challenges posed by heat during matches. He explained that elevated temperatures increase the strain on athletes’ cardiovascular systems and can lead to dehydration, muscle cramps, and heat exhaustion—conditions that can severely impact performance and well-being.

“Difficult weather environments bring on dehydration and can create severe exhaustion, heat exhaustion, and those [conditions] have tremendous and dire consequences,” Mandelbaum said, noting that the cooling breaks are a crucial step in managing athlete health. Although indoor stadiums may rarely require medical intervention for heat, he added that including hydration breaks at the highest levels of competition sends a broader message encouraging safer practices at all levels of the sport.

FIFA’s decision to mandate one cooling break per half for every match follows earlier practices introduced in 2014, when breaks were recommended only if field temperatures exceeded 102.2 degrees Fahrenheit. This year’s tournament coincides with a notable heat wave in the eastern U.S., with some matches played under conditions that rank among the hottest in World Cup history.

While FIFA President Gianni Infantino defended the uniform breaks as a way to equalize conditions for all teams and prevent perceived competitive advantage, some researchers have questioned the approach. Harry Brown, a postdoctoral research associate at the University of Sydney, argued that blanket breaks could diminish the perceived seriousness of heat-safety measures and called for more targeted interventions, including active cooling methods like icy towels and extended rest periods, which have proven more effective in reducing core temperatures and cardiovascular strain during extreme heat.

Other physicians stress that standardized cooling breaks remain preferable to having none. Dr. Miho J. Tanaka of Harvard Medical School, who serves as a team physician for Major League Soccer and Major League Baseball teams, acknowledged that individualized monitoring to identify heat risk in players would be ideal but currently remains impractical. Until such tools are available, she said, mandatory breaks represent a practical compromise to mitigate heat-related risks.

As global temperatures continue to rise, these cooling breaks reflect broader challenges faced by sports organizations in adapting to environmental changes while safeguarding athletes. Mandelbaum emphasized the importance of extending hydration and heat management practices beyond elite tournaments to community and youth levels, promoting safer participation across all tiers of soccer worldwide.