World Cup 2026: Bielsa opposes cooling breaks

Uruguay is set to play Cape Verde in the 2026 World Cup, seeking their first victory after an opening draw against Saudi Arabia.

Coach Marcelo Bielsa has voiced his opposition to the new "hydration breaks" in football. He believes these breaks disrupt the game's flow and structure, fundamentally altering the traditional conception of how football is played. Bielsa stated that playing in four segments instead of two changes the cultural understanding of the sport, adding little and detracting significantly.

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Jugar cuatro tiempos en lugar de dos altera la concepción que culturalmente se había construido para interpretar el fútbol. No le agrega nada y le quita mucho. Cuando se dividió en cuatro no se pensó en el efecto que puede tener sobre lo que hizo que el fútbol…

Bielsa further noted that these breaks often exceed their allotted time, negatively impacting the game's rhythm and continuity. He suggested that football's characteristics have changed, drawing a comparison to VAR, which he believes has improved the sport. Bielsa indicated that his conclusions are based on widespread opinions he agrees with, rather than personal analysis.

The Uruguayan coach largely avoided discussing the upcoming match against Cape Verde, which has garnered attention following their strong performance in the premiere. His focus remained on his critique of the game's evolving format.

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Το να παίζεις τέσσερις περιόδους αντί για δύο, αλλάζει την ίδια την έννοια του ποδοσφαίρου. Δεν σκέφτηκαν τις συνέπειες που θα μπορούσε να έχει αυτό στο παιχνίδι.