Every 2026 World Cup game will feature three-minute "hydration breaks" midway through both halves, FIFA has announced.

Hydration breaks have previously been utilized during matches with excessive heat. But for all 104 games at next summer's World Cup, the breaks will take place regardless of the temperature.

“For every game, no matter where the games are played, no matter if there’s a roof, (or) temperature-wise, there will be a three-minute hydration break. It will be three minutes from whistle to whistle in both halves,” said Manolo Zubiria, the World Cup's chief tournament officer.

The breaks will essentially turn every match into a four-quarter affair, as coaches and players have the opportunity to regroup and change tactics midway through each half.

There will be commercial implications as well, with broadcasters having the chance to sell advertising space during the breaks in action.

FIFA said that the breaks were "part of a focused attempt to ensure the best possible conditions for players, drawing upon the experiences of previous tournaments, including the recent FIFA Club World Cup, which took place in the United States last summer."

During the first edition of the Club World Cup, there were several complaints from those involved around intense heat and weather delays.

"The other day I got a bit dizzy during a play. I had to lie down on the ground because I was really dizzy," Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernández said during the tournament.

"Playing in this temperature is very dangerous, it's very dangerous."

FIFA announced the schedule for the World Cup on Saturday, one day after the draw. The governing body attempted to mitigate concerns over the heat by scheduling a number of afternoon games in cities with roofed stadiums.

For many of the hottest climates, FIFA tried to schedule as many games as possible at night.

There were exceptions, however. The semifinals in Atlanta (which has a roofed stadium) and Miami will kick off at 3 p.m. local time, as well as the final in New Jersey. The latter two games could be threatened by extreme weather conditions.

This article originally appeared on Pro Soccer Wire: Every World Cup 2026 game to feature two hydration breaks

Reporting by Seth Vertelney, Pro Soccer Wire / Pro Soccer Wire

USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect