Pochettino criticizes FIFA's hydration break rule ahead of World Cup
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Jun 12, 2026, 12:53 AM
Last updated Jun 12, 2026
USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino expressed concerns over FIFA's mandatory hydration breaks for the 2026 World Cup. He considers the rule unnecessary in mild weather conditions, arguing it disrupts the flow of matches. Pochettino acknowledges the necessity of hydration breaks during extreme heat but questions the blanket application of the rule. His critiques come as teams prepare for the tournament, which is set to take place in the summer across the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
- •Pochettino argues hydration breaks disrupt match rhythm when conditions are mild.
- •FIFA’s rule imposes mandatory breaks regardless of weather severity.
- •He acknowledges the necessity of breaks in extreme heat for player safety.
- •USMNT prepares for the World Cup amid the ongoing hydration debate.
- •The tournament will take place across the U.S., Canada, and Mexico this summer.
- 12:53 AMYahoo Sports — ‘I don’t like it’ – USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino hits out a ‘unnecessary’ hydration break rule
"Mauricio Pochettino has hit out at FIFA’s mandatory World Cup hydration break rule, with the USMNT coach arguing that the stoppages are unnecessary when conditions are not extreme. The 2026 World Cup has introduced a different rhythm before teams have even settled into the tournament.
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