Will World Cup water breaks have a big impact on team tactics?

By Mark Conti/Cesareo Contreras June 12, 2026
Argentina’s midfielder Thiago Almada

Qatar’s matchup against Switzerland this weekend in Levi’s Stadium in Santa Clara, California, is sure to be a hot one — in more ways than one.

The forecasted game-time temperature will be 89 degrees Fahrenheit, according to meteorologists.  

To ensure player well-being, the 2026 FIFA World Cup has implemented mandatory hydration breaks in every match.

But this may not only refuel players, it could also influence game strategy, said Brennan Klein, director of the NetSI Sport research group, at Northeastern University.

“The question is, are there tactical shifts that happen after the hydration breaks, because if there are … you might get coaching during the breaks,” Klein said,noting that the fluid breaks could give coaches a chance to modify tactics according to the trajectory of the game.

Read more at Northeastern Global News

Photo by Eitan ABRAMOVICH / AFP via Getty Images

Sign up for CONNECTS.

The College of Science newsletter delivered straight to your inbox.

"*" indicates required fields

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.