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Rabat – FIFA will review the impact of hydration breaks introduced throughout the 2026 World Cup following criticism from several leading coaches.
Arsène Wenger, FIFA’s chief of global football development, said the governing body’s Technical Study Group would examine tournament data before concluding.
“Sometimes people didn’t like it,” Wenger told reporters in New Jersey. “We will have to analyse after the World Cup, but it didn’t look to me as if they changed the outcome of the competition.”
He added that the breaks were necessary during some matches because of the weather conditions.
FIFA decided to introduce them in every game to avoid applying different rules depending on the venue or conditions. However, the decision caused frustration when breaks were held inside covered stadiums.
“We have not come to a conclusion yet, but I promise that you will get one,” Wenger said.
Uruguay head coach Marcelo Bielsa was among the strongest critics, arguing that dividing matches into four periods added little and disrupted the flow of the game.
The breaks also attracted criticism because some broadcasters used them for commercials, occasionally leaving television audiences missing live action when play resumed.
Wenger also addressed concerns about the tournament’s demanding travel schedule and limited recovery time.
He said FIFA had been worried before the competition that long distances between venues could negatively affect the quality of football.
However, Wenger argued that the performances of finalists Spain and Argentina showed that travel had not prevented teams from improving during the tournament.
“In Qatar, every night we slept in the same bed, not here,” he said. “But when you see Argentina and Spain, the two teams have grown during the tournament.”
Wenger maintained that success ultimately depended on the quality and determination of each team rather than the logistical challenges surrounding the competition.
FIFA is expected to complete its analysis after the tournament before deciding whether hydration breaks should remain mandatory, be limited to specific weather conditions or be removed from certain matches.
