Virgil van Dijk dislikes World Cup water breaks

Dutch defender Virgil van Dijk has voiced his displeasure with the water and advertising breaks that have become a feature of World Cup matches. The experienced player finds these interruptions disruptive to the flow of the game.

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The water breaks are a bit strange because I've watched almost all the matches so far and every time there's an ad break, it's a bit... I didn't like it.

"The water breaks are a bit strange because I've watched almost all the matches so far and every time there's an ad break, it's a bit... I didn't like it," Van Dijk stated. He believes these pauses are not particularly enjoyable for neutral spectators watching from home either.

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I think neutral viewers watching the match on television don't find it a very pleasant situation either.

While acknowledging the necessity of breaks in extremely hot conditions, Van Dijk suggested that a more individualized approach to match scheduling and breaks would be preferable. "If the weather is really hot, of course, it's good that these breaks are given, but I think each match needs to be assessed separately," he explained, before concluding, "Anyway, I think I've talked enough about this situation."

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If the weather is really hot, of course, it's good that these breaks are given, but I think each match needs to be assessed separately.

Van Dijk's comments come after his team, the Netherlands, drew their opening match of the 2026 FIFA World Cup 2-2 against Japan.

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Anyway, I think I've talked enough about this situation.