He World Cup 2026 It was its second day and the war was already unleashed. first controversy due to the mandatory hydration breaks that are taking place in the middle of each halftime.
Although the Fifa has defended the initiative arguing that it is done in order to protect the health of footballers in front of extreme heatthe first meetings have set off alarms. Professionals at the event and critics have questioned on social networks if everything is a medical emergency or a simple excuse to add more commercial advertising.
READ ALSO
Controversies over hydration time
Inauguration of the 2026 World Cup. Mexico vs. South Africa. Photo:EFE
He debate gained strength in it opening match between Mexico and South Africa. In that commitment, one of the water breaks delayed the resumption of the game because the television continued on commercial breakswhich generated a immediate rejection of the spectators.
Jose Ramon Fernandezhistorical Mexican sports journalist, reported what happened in it second hydration break of the opening match. The critic revealed that the central judge was forced to delay resumption of the meeting until the chain FOX USA will end the issuance of its commercial commitments.
Mexico vs. South Africa. goal by Raúl Jiménez. Photo:AFP
“In the second hydration break of Mexico vs South Africa, the referee had to make him wait to the players so that FOX USA will end airing advertisements“Fernandez wrote.
READ ALSO
And he added: “Even when the game had already resumed, I was still in commercials. Are breaks really for take care of the footballers or for sell more ads?
In the second hydration break of Mexico vs South Africa, the referee had to make the players wait for FOX USA to finish broadcasting announcements. Even when the game had already resumed, it was still on commercials. Are the breaks really to take care of the… https://t.co/oJnNyCVx1E pic.twitter.com/I8GF0xwYOu
— José Ramón Fernández (@joserra_espn) June 12, 2026
Someone who shared the same criticism was Romain Molinaa french sports journalist who wrote on social networks: “As announced months ago, the freshness breaks have nothing to do with health of the players, but they are there to place ads in the middle of halftime.”
Comme on l’annonçait il ya des mois, les pauses fraîcheur n’ont rien à voir avec la santé des joueurs mais sont là pour pleasure des pubs au milieu des mi-temps
L’arbitre de Mexique 🇲🇽 – Afrique du Sud 🇿🇦 a par example dû faire attendre les joueurs lors de la seconde pause…
— Romain Molina (@Romain_Molina) June 12, 2026
READ ALSO
Fifa defends
The doubts about the measure They grew up seeing that breaks were applied in scenarios without heat. This was what happened in the opening game in the Mexican capital and, later, in the match between South Korea and the Czech Republic in Guadalajara, a match that was not even played under the sun, but at night and in fairly mild weatheraccording to attendees on social networks.
Are pauses were already being made. In fact, at the end of March a friendly between Brazil and France; in that meeting also took the break.
Mexico national team in the 2026 World Cup. Photo:EFE
“The three minutes of respite“in the middle of each of the two halves of the match”they cut everything but the diffusers are happy, there are more ads“summed up the France coach, Didier Deschampsafter finishing the friendly.
READ ALSO
The Fifa justifies that interruption to protect the health of players before the high temperatures what are expected in the middle of summer United States, Mexico and Canada.
Trionda, the official ball of the 2026 World Cup Photo:FIFA
But by converting those mandatory breaks, regardless of the weatherand authorizing the broadcasters to interrupt the broadcast to include advertisingthe institution has fueled suspicions of wanting generate even more money in a World Cup whose income is already estimated at close to 4 billion dollarsaccording to the latest forecasts.
A much higher figure to the 2.9 billion raised in Qatar 2022.
READ ALSO
He increase in the number of countries ranked from 32 to 48 already made this tournament, organized for the first time in three countriesin a excessive editing.
Trionda, the official ball of the 2026 World Cup Photo:Marcio Machado
“It’s quite surprising that (these new breaks) arrive in this World Cup, which will be held mostly in the United States“, where the diffuser is Fox Sportsanalyzed Christophe Lepetitdirector of the Center for Sports Law and Economics in Paris.
“He North American sport is built to have many breaksfor pass many ads“he added, referring to the basketball (NBA) and American football (NFL) leagueswhose matches are often punctuated by tactical timeouts that can last several minutes.
READ ALSO
The president of the NPA Conseil cabinet, Philippe Baillyinsists that “the cuts in the middle of the game are very powerful windows for brands“.
FELIPE SANTANILLA AYALA
LATEST NEWS EDITORIAL
With information from AFP
