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Jurgen Klopp, the former Liverpool manager, has shared his thoughts on the much-debated hydration breaks introduced for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, offering a contrasting view to many critics. While both fans and players have expressed frustration over the constant interruptions, the German coach believes the measure has practical benefits, both for player welfare and for the overall match experience.

Benefits for the players

With the World Cup being hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico, FIFA has mandated cooling breaks midway through each half. These pauses are primarily aimed at protecting players from the intense summer heat in North America. However, they have sparked significant debate among supporters and pundits alike. Klopp, known for his candid humour, approached the issue with a lighter perspective.

Discussing the rule, Klopp acknowledged the physical demands faced by the athletes: “It’s really hot and it’s good for the players,” he remarked. “Is it good for the coaches? Yeah, I would have loved it. 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. But that’s the thing.”

Klopp’s humorous take on FIFA’s new policy

The 59-year-old coach noted that the experience of watching a match live at the stadium differs from viewing it on television. He jokingly added that the breaks serve a useful purpose for spectators of his age during long matchdays.

“It’s got its use and 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,” Klopp said. “It’s completely fine, but I understand when you sit at home and then the commercials start… but being my age, it is a welcome break to go to the toilet!”

Tuchel and Van Dijk voice their objections

Not everyone shares Klopp’s enthusiasm. England manager Thomas Tuchel has criticised the policy, arguing that the frequent interruptions disrupt the rhythm of the game. According to him, such breaks alter the fundamental flow of football, especially for teams that rely on maintaining intensity and pressing continuously.

Tuchel explained: “I think that it interrupts and changes the identity of a football match much more than I thought. I had hydration breaks before when it was really, really hot and needed, but they were shorter. They were shorter and they were just in a few matches. In the interests of fairness here, it is now done in every match for every team. It breaks the match almost in four quarters. And I think it changes the characteristic of the match more than I thought.”

Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk also believes the rule should be applied more flexibly rather than imposed uniformly. He commented: “Hydration breaks are a bit interesting, because I was obviously watching almost all the games up until today, and every time going to commercial is a bit… not really that I like it,” Van Dijk explained. “I think for the neutral watchers on TV it’s also not great. If it’s really hot, obviously 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’ve said enough already for that.”

FIFA defends its stance on fairness

Despite the criticism from players and managers, as well as jeers from fans during the stoppages, FIFA has made it clear that it will not withdraw the hydration breaks during the tournament. The football governing body insists that player health and fairness remain the top priorities, ensuring consistent conditions for all teams regardless of external factors such as temperature or stadium settings.

Addressing the backlash, a FIFA spokesperson told the Press Association: “We want to ensure equal conditions for everyone and that’s why these breaks are implemented in every match.”

FIFA President Gianni Infantino echoed this sentiment, defending the decision and rejecting claims that the organisation was profiting from additional advertising time.