ZURICH (AP) — FIFA says it will include three-minute hydration breaks in each half of every game at next year's World Cup, not just those played in hot weather.
The referee will stop the game 22 minutes into each half for players to take drinks, regardless of the temperature, the host country — the United States, Canada or Mexico — or whether the stadium has a roof and air conditioning.
The change may also be a hit with broadcasters, since it makes the game schedule more predictable. FIFA said it was first announced when the governing body's chief tournament officer for the 2026 World Cup, Manolo Zubiria, attended a meeting with broadcasters.
He indicated that referees may have some flexibility if there's a stoppage shortly before the 22-minute mark for an injury.
“This will be addressed on the spot with the referee,” Zubiria said.
FIFA said the move is a “streamlined and simplified version” of an earlier practice of having breaks after 30 minutes over a certain temperature threshold, once set at 32 degrees Celsius (89.6 Fahrenheit) on the wet bulb global temperature system.
The change comes after heat and humidity affected players during some games at this year's Club World Cup in the U.S.
At that tournament, FIFA reacted by lowering the threshold for cooling or water breaks and also placing more water and towels around the edge of the field.
Heat has long been an issue at major soccer tournaments. Amid concerns ahead of the 2014 World Cup, a Brazilian court ordered FIFA to make its recommended breaks mandatory or face fines.
AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
FILE - Fluminense players cooling up during a water break at the Club World Cup quarterfinal soccer match between Fluminense and Al Hilal in Orlando, Fla., Friday, July 4, 2025. (AP Photo/John Raoux, file)
MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 4, 2026--
With combined business spend on loyalty, employee recognition, and channel incentives projected to exceed $80 billion by the 2030s, the incentive industry is entering a period of rapid scale and strategic pressure.
This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260422729016/en/
In response, the Incentive Marketing Association (IMA) launched a new suite of resources designed to help incentive professionals navigate an environment that’s becoming more specialized, fragmented, and central to business performance.
“It’s not just more money coming in—it’s more complexity,” said Vince Chiofolo, President of the Incentive & Engagement Solution Providers (IESP). “Buyers are demanding programs that evolve fast, integrate deeply, and feel personal at scale. These new tools were built for that.”
IMA’s Suite of Tools Includes:
New Industry Report — Inside the Incentive Buyer’s Mind
Drawn from insights of 50+ program owners, the report from Inside the Incentive Buyer’s Mind breaks down the changing expectations of today’s buyers. This report will help:
EngageIQ — The First AI Assistant Built for Incentive Education
Now live via ChatGPT integration, EngageIQ answers real-time questions about segmentation, program design, reward models, and strategy logic.
EngageIQ brings structure to the conversations around recognition, loyalty, and incentives, and puts credible, focused knowledge within reach.
Motivation Insiders Podcast Relaunch
A sharper, more frequent series focused on the voices moving the industry forward—from practitioners and platform leaders to marketers and incentive buyers. Each episode on the Motivation Insiders Podcast brings together experts to discuss different aspects of behavioral science and how you can use them to improve your incentive and recognition programs.
Global Insights on Incentive & Recognition
The IMA Global Incentives & Recognition Report consolidates insights from executives and companies for industry professionals seeking a better understanding of the global landscape of incentive and recognition.
The report offers a focused lens, providing structure, depth and actionable insights across regions and roles. This forms a structured and scalable knowledge base—designed to deliver both global comparability and local relevance.
Recognition Professionals Certification
Built on Recognition Professionals International’s (RPI) 7 Best Practice Standards® and supported by decades of research, the CRP designation establishes you as a leader in the art and science of employee recognition.
Access all the tools at www.incentivemarketing.org.
Incentive Market Set to Surpass $80B by 2030s — IMA Launches Tools to Help the Industry Keep Pace
