World Cup viewers hate them, but All Whites say hydration breaks are vital

Saturday, 13 June 2026

Callum McCowatt says mandatory hydration breaks stop teams from flagging in extreme heat, despite fan frustration over disrupted play.

All Whites forward Callum McCowatt supports mandatory three-minute hydration breaks during FIFA World Cup matches, believing they help maintain playing standards in hot conditions.

Referees will stop play 22 minutes into each half for hydration breaks across all 104 World Cup matches in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

New Zealand's opener against Iran will be played at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles with forecast temperatures of 24 degrees Celsius on Monday evening.

Hydration breaks have become a hot topic at the FIFA World Cup, but All Whites forward Callum McCowatt believes they are vital for players to perform at their best.

All Whites striker Chris Wood trains at Torero Stadium in the lead-up to the team’s opening game against Iran.

For all 104 matches at the tournament across the United States, Canada and Mexico, referees will stop play 22 minutes into each half to allow players to rehydrate, effectively turning games into four quarters.

The mandatory three-minute stoppages will occur regardless of conditions and have already drawn backlash from viewers, with broadcasters using the breaks to cut away to advertisements – disrupting the free-flowing nature of the sport.

Two of the All Whites’ group G matches will be played in Vancouver, likely the coldest of the 16 host cities. Their opener against Iran will be at SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles, where 24°C temperatures are forecast for the Monday 6pm kickoff (Tuesday 1pm NZT).

The All Whites experienced these breaks first-hand during their final warm-up match against England in Tampa, where temperatures reached 33°C and felt even hotter due to the humidity.

Conditions have been more comfortable in San Diego, where the All Whites are based, though temperatures were high when they trained under blue skies at the University of San Diego on Friday morning (Saturday NZT).

“Definitely in Miami it was necessary, in my opinion. It was over 30 and the humidity was very high so you were losing a lot of fluids,” McCowatt said.

“I think it actually helps the level of play. If you just continue, you could see from the 40th to 45th minute the pace was so slow against England and that’s where we got punished, right before halftime.

“If you have games on that side of the United States then you probably need it, but it’s only fair if every team gets a hydration break.

“It’s the same if a goalkeeper goes down,” he added. “People will go out for a drink and maybe get some tactics from the coach. It’s something that has been around in football for a long time, just not labelled ‘hydration break’ I suppose.”

McCowatt first encountered cooling breaks during his lone season with Wellington Phoenix in the A-League, where away matches in Australia were often played in extreme summer heat. Those breaks were introduced on a case-by-case basis. He recalled one game in Ballarat, where the temperature hit 36C.

“I remember in the A-League it was really difficult and that actually makes it tough for the A-League to go forward because the temperatures are so hot. It doesn’t help the quality of football, that’s what my opinion was when I played there.”

Joe Bell and Marko Stamenić have started together at the base of midfield 14 times under Darren Bazeley and will be a key combination at the World Cup,

Now with Silkeborg IF in Denmark, McCowatt has welcomed the warmer climate since arriving in the US.

“Of course it’s difficult, but I like it personally. I spend so much time not in the summer. It’s a nice change and is something that has made my body feel really good.”

All Whites team-mate Eli Just, who plays for Motherwell in Scotland, agreed.

The winger backed his fitness levels in all conditions but felt the hydration breaks were a helpful addition to the World Cup, giving players a chance to regroup regardless of the scoreline.

“It’s obviously useful to have that little break and get hydrated. In our warm-up games it was extremely hot,” Just said.

“I’m not sure what the temperature will be in SoFi Stadium, I think it’s indoors, so maybe the drinks breaks aren’t as necessary for the players and more for the commercial side.

“It can go one of two ways but hopefully we’re on top and playing well, so those drinks breaks are just quick breaks and then continuing with the momentum. But the other way around, if you’re struggling it’s a chance to get together and regroup.”