Wenger Says FIFA Will Review World Cup Hydration Breaks

FIFA’s Head of Global Football Development, Arsene Wenger, has said the governing body will review the hydration breaks introduced at the 2026 FIFA World Cup after receiving mixed reactions from fans and football officials.

Speaking on Saturday, a day before the World Cup final between Spain and Argentina, Wenger admitted that not everyone supported the new rule.

“Sometimes people didn’t like it and we have to analyse after the World Cup what the impact was,” Wenger said.

For the 2026 tournament, FIFA introduced three-minute hydration breaks in the middle of each half for every match, regardless of the weather. The breaks were used even in cool conditions and in stadiums with closed roofs.

FIFA said the decision was made to protect players’ health and welfare. However, some critics believed the breaks also created more opportunities for television advertising.

Wenger said the breaks did not appear to affect match results but stressed that FIFA would listen to feedback from football fans before making a decision for future tournaments.

“In many games, especially when the stadium was covered, people were not happy with it, but at the start of the competition it was decided to do it for everybody,” he said.

Spain coach Luis de la Fuente supported the hydration breaks, saying they helped players recover during matches played in hot conditions.

Wenger also defended FIFA’s decision to expand the World Cup from 32 to 48 teams. He said the move gave more countries the chance to compete on the biggest stage and described the new format as a success.

“It was questioned before it started, but I am convinced it was the right decision and it was a great success,” Wenger said.