Van Dijk expresses sympathy for fan discontent over hydration intervals

In December 2025, FIFA initially declared the introduction of three-minute pauses at the 22nd minute of each half, emphasising that these intervals would be incorporated into all 104 tournament matches "to guarantee uniform circumstances for every team, across all fixtures".

Water breaks are not unfamiliar to football or the World Cup; the 2014 edition in Brazil sometimes needed extra stoppages in play due to severe heat.

Official broadcast partners are allowed to switch to adverts during these hydration pauses. Fox Soccer from the USA recently pushed the limits of the new rules by coming back from an advertisement ten seconds after the match had restarted during the opening game between Mexico and South Africa.

FIFA chose not to penalise Fox beyond accepting their justification. However, this early violation of the regulations has led many to question whether FIFA is subtly encouraging a shift towards the American 'four-quarter' structure employed by the NBA and NFL to increase advertising income.

These hydration intervals have received near-universal mockery from both TV audiences and live spectators. Booing and catcalls have been clearly heard on numerous broadcasts throughout the competition so far.

Netherlands defender Virgil van Dijk, who netted in his team's 2-2 draw with Japan, tactfully referred to the pauses as "somewhat intriguing."

"I have been watching nearly all the matches up to now, and each time there was an ad break, I was not particularly fond of it," Van Dijk explained. "I believe it is also not ideal for neutral viewers watching on television."

"Naturally, if the weather is extremely hot, then it would be beneficial to include them. In my view, each match should be considered individually."

Possibly aware that he was treading into sensitive territory, Van Dijk then grinned at journalists and joked: "I reckon I have already spoken enough on that subject."

Whether one likes them or loathes them, hydration breaks at FIFA World Cups are almost guaranteed to remain a fixture for the coming ten years. The Mediterranean trio of Morocco, Portugal and Spain will host the 2030 edition at the peak of summer, before the competition returns to the Middle East (Saudi Arabia) in 2034.