One of the most controversial features introduced at the 2026 World Cup could have a life beyond the tournament, with former England goalkeeper Ben Foster fearing that what began as a tournament measure could eventually become part of the regular club football landscape.Hydration breaks proved hugely unpopular with sections of supporters during the World Cup, with the three-minute stoppages midway through each half disrupting the flow of matches and prompting questions over whether football was becoming too fragmented. Foster now believes the Premier League and Champions League could eventually face the same change, although the Premier League has confirmed that it will not introduce mandatory, blanket hydration breaks among its rule changes for the 2026-27 season.
Why hydration breaks caused such a stir
FIFA introduced mandatory three-minute hydration breaks midway through each half at the World Cup, meaning matches were effectively divided into four separate periods rather than two continuous 45-minute halves.The interruptions were criticised by players and managers who felt they affected the momentum and identity of matches, with USMNT head coach Mauricio Pochettino making his position clear during the tournament.“I don’t like it. I only like it when the conditions are extreme. But when the conditions are good, it is unnecessary,” Pochettino said.
Portugal players cool down during a hydration break during the World Cup Group K soccer match between Colombia and Portugal in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, June 27, 2026. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
The commercial side of the decision also attracted attention because broadcasters could use the stoppages as advertising opportunities. A 30-second World Cup commercial slot on Fox Sports reportedly cost between $200,000 and $300,000, with prices reaching around $750,000 during the latter stages of the competition.The World Cup final added another controversial alteration to the traditional match format. A Super Bowl-style half-time show extended the interval to 27 minutes, exceeding the 15-minute maximum stipulated by the Laws of the Game.
Foster fears football is becoming ‘quarters’
Foster has played more than 550 professional matches for club and country, and he believes the physical impact of the stoppages could become particularly noticeable for older players because they have less time to remain loose and ready to resume at full intensity.Speaking exclusively on talkSPORTDrive, Foster said: “If you’re an older player it does, if you’re about 32 onwards [it will affect you].“I would like to think they have bikes in the changing room because they will have to get moving pretty quick, because you can stiffen up so quickly.”But his concern goes beyond the physical effects. Foster believes the regular interruptions fundamentally alter how teams experience and manage a football match.“The halves are not even 45 minutes anymore, they’re quarters. It would not surprise me if these hydration breaks crept into the Premier League,” he said.“It would not surprise me one little bit. Where there’s money to be made, there’s a way. They will find a reason to justify it.”The league has confirmedThat prediction is not currently reflected in the Premier League’s rules for the new season.World Cup’s Most-Hated Hydration Breaks Could Be ‘Soft-Launched’ in the Champions Leaguethat mandatory hydration breaks will not be introduced across matches in 2026-27. Cooling breaks can still be used when temperatures exceed 30°C (86°F), with the referee deciding before kick-off whether conditions warrant one.
Why Foster thinks the Champions League could be next
Foster is nevertheless concerned that the absence of mandatory breaks in England will not necessarily stop the idea from spreading elsewhere, particularly if football discovers a financial incentive to make the interruptions part of the matchday product.He pointed to VAR as an example of how difficult it can become to reverse a change once football has invested heavily in it, regardless of how supporters feel about the system.“There’s nothing we can do as football fans to stop it, they introduced VAR and every single one of us hates it,” Foster said.“I could do away with VAR tomorrow, but they won’t now because they invested so much money into it.”He believes the Champions League could be where the concept is introduced gradually before becoming more widespread.“They will do a soft launch in the Champions League, for example, you watch. Clubs will say ‘oh we get an extra million quid’.”Foster also believes the World Cup breaks have already changed the way some teams approach their matches, with coaches and players able to treat each interruption almost like a reset point.“Teams have been approaching games differently because it’s in quarters, so you can break it down into the four parts. But I hate it.”His concerns echo those voiced by other figures in the game. England manager Thomas Tuchel has previously said the stoppages “interrupt and change the identity of a football match”, while UEFA has ruled out introducing the same mandatory system in European competition.For now, then, Foster’s prediction remains just that: a warning about where he believes football could be heading. The Premier League has specifically rejected mandatory hydration breaks, but his broader concern is that once a change creates a commercial opportunity, football’s authorities may eventually find a reason to make it permanent.
