Jurgen Klopp has shared a mixed opinion of FIFA’s mandatory World Cup ‘hydration breaks’, which have been widely criticised by fans.
For the first time, FIFA introduced mandatory hydration breaks midway through each half in every match at the World Cup.
The idea of a quick drinks break isn’t new and is completely understandable in hot temperatures, but there is already a protocol for this.
FIFA’s decision to make them mandatory even in air-conditioned stadiums, allowing broadcasters to show extra advertisements, has not gone down well.
Klopp, whose opinion carries weight, has now had his say, giving a slightly tongue-in-cheek response to media including the BBC.
Jurgen Klopp doesn’t mind the hydration break, for a certain reason… pic.twitter.com/GuyUqFd7yF
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) June 24, 2026
“It’s really hot, it’s good for the players. Is it good for the coaches? Yeah, I would have loved it,” the former Liverpool manager admitted.
“Maybe it’s a little bit too much right now. It’s definitely too long because for drinking you don’t need two-and-a-half minutes or whatever.”
Klopp was, of course, talking about ‘hydration breaks’ in the context of a hot American summer. If he had been asked about their introduction in English football, his reply may have been different.
The German continued: “When you are in the stadium, it’s OK because you get a little bit of a show in Dallas with the cheerleaders which I enjoyed on the big screen. It’s like completely fine.
“But I understand when you sit at home and then the commercials start [it is bad], but coming my age it’s a welcome break to go to the toilet!”
Virgil van Dijk has criticised the mandatory breaks
¡Van Dijk no es muy fan de las pausas de hidratación! ????
Virgil dejó muy clara su postura sobre los polémicos Cooling Break durante los partidos de la Copa del Mundo.#TNTSports2026 pic.twitter.com/Hhi3OcFGQB
— TNT Sports México (@tntsportsmex) June 15, 2026
Liverpool and Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk has come down harder on the mandatory breaks than Klopp.
After his team’s opening draw with Japan, he said: “I think every time going to commercials is a bit, not really something that I like.
“I think for the neutral watchers on TV it is also not great. So if it is really hot it would be good to put them in, but I think you have to look at it in every game separately, in my opinion.
“But I think I have said enough already on that.”
FIFA’s defence of the ‘hydration breaks’
CARDIFF, WALES - Friday, March 4, 2016: New FIFA president Gianni Infantino during a press conference ahead of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) 130th Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the St. David's Hotel. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
CARDIFF, WALES - Friday, March 4, 2016: New FIFA president Gianni Infantino during a press conference ahead of the International Football Association Board (IFAB) 130th Annual General Meeting (AGM) at the St. David's Hotel. (Pic by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
FIFA and its president, Gianni Infantino, have tried to defend the breaks which have been booed in stadiums on several occasions.
A spokesperson said: “We want to ensure equal conditions for everyone and that’s why these breaks are implemented in every match.”
Infantino then added: “It’s very difficult to accept that a coach might have the opportunity to influence a match by making adjustments simply because it’s hotter, while in another match, where the temperature is slightly lower, the same coach doesn’t have the same opportunity.
“There is no additional revenue for FIFA, as all commercial agreements were signed well in advance. So this is not a financial issue for us. For us, it is purely a sporting matter.”
We will let you make your own minds up as to whether that is really the case.
2025-10-03-002-Fulham_U21_Liverpool_U21
LONDON, ENGLAND - Friday, October 3, 2025: Liverpool's Rhys Williams during the pre-match warm-up before the Premier League 2 match between Fulham FC Under-21's and Liverpool FC Under-21's at Motspur Park. The game ended in a 1-1 draw. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Alisson, Robertson – Brazil, Scotland – World Cup 2026
Alisson, Robertson - Brazil, Scotland - World Cup 2026
records that will never be broken FI
records that will never be broken FI