Hydration breaks have been introduced across every match at the 2026 World Cup, as player welfare is a real concern with temperatures expected to exceed 90 F in the hottest World Cup venues.
But these breaks have quickly proved controversial. Critics have questioned whether they are about welfare or more commercial opportunities, and said that they interrupt the natural rhythm of games and momentum for players.
As the controversy grows, Newsweek looks at which World Cup matches have been the hottest so far.
Hottest World Cup 2026 Matches
These are the top five hottest World Cup matches so far.
- Brazil 1-1 Morocco: The temperature when Brazil and Morocco faced off in East Rutherford reached close to 90 F in sunny conditions.
- Qatar 1-1 Switzerland: It was 89 F and sunny for the game between Qatar and Switzerland in Santa Clara.
- Saudi Arabia 1-1 Uruguay: When Saudi Arabia and Uruguay played in Miami, it was 88 F and very humid.
- Côte d’Ivoire 1-0 Ecuador: This game in Philadelphia took place with the temperature in the mid-80s F at the start time of 7 p.m. The earlier daytime high had been 90 F.
- Sweden 5-1 Tunisia: When Sweden faced off against Tunisia in Monterrey, the temperature was in the mid-80s F for the evening kickoff.
Temperatures are entirely variable by location, though, and several of the World Cup venues in hotter host cities have air conditioning systems, keeping conditions inside the stadium cooler than the temperature outside.
This includes the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, the AT&T Stadium in Dallas, the NRG Stadium in Houston and BC Place in Vancouver.
Research published in the journal Temperature found that during last summer’s FIFA Club World Cup in the U.S., the mean temperature was above 82.4 F.
What Is a Hydration Break?
Hydration breaks are mandatory three-minute pauses over each of the 104 World Cup matches across the U.S., Canada and Mexico.
These rules mean that play stops twice in each game, at roughly the 22nd and 67th minute, for scheduled three-minute pauses. Those pauses take place regardless of weather conditions and the mandatory breaks are an innovation introduced for this year’s FIFA World Cup.
In a recent statement. Manolo Zubiria, chief tournament officer for the 2026 FIFA World Cup said: “For every game, no matter where the games are played, no matter if there’s a roof, [or] temperature-wise, there will be a three-minute hydration break. It will be three minutes from whistle to whistle in both halves.”
Some critics say that the breaks are an excuse for broadcasters to go to commercials mid-game.
Others have argued that they interrupt play. During a recent episode of the podcast, The Rest Is Football, the former England striker, Alan Shearer, discussed the recent game between Curaçao and Germany, and the effect the drinks break had on the Curaçao team.
“I actually felt sorry for them. They scored and then it was maybe 30 seconds after that it stopped. So it’s killed their momentum,” Shearer said of the minnows from the Caribbean.
And the breaks appear to be having a bearing on gameplay. Coaches have seized the opportunity to pass on in-game tactical instructions that normally would not be possible.
In half of the first 16 games, there were goals scored within 10 minutes of the rehydration break.
