Bielsa slams 2026 World Cup hydration breaks as disruptive

Uruguay's national team coach, Marcelo Bielsa, has sharply criticized the hydration breaks implemented in the 2026 North American World Cup, asserting they unnecessarily disrupt the flow of football.

"Playing four halves instead of two alters the conception that culturally has been built to interpret football. This change in the culture of interpreting football adds nothing and takes away a lot," the Argentine coach stated at a press conference in Miami. Bielsa was referring to one of the most discussed aspects of the tournament's early stages: the three-minute hydration breaks in each half, which effectively divide matches into four segments rather than two.

"When it was divided into four, the effect it might have on what made football a sport that captivates was not considered, but rather other repercussions were," Bielsa added. He contrasted this change with the Video Assistant Referee (VAR) system, which he believes has improved football, unlike the hydration breaks.

"The conclusions I am stating are not mine; they are what I constantly hear and I adhere to them," Bielsa concluded. The coach briefly mentioned Uruguay's upcoming match against Cape Verde, noting that his team aims to show a better performance than in their opening draw against Saudi Arabia.