World Cup cooling breaks show how American influence is changing football

A Sports 5 column says the World Cup has quietly turned football from a game of two halves into something closer to four quarters, thanks to mandatory cooling breaks. The article argues that the pauses, inserted at the midpoint of each half, are about far more than player hydration and reflect a growing American influence on the sport.

The piece opens with a scene from Toronto, where Ghana played Panama in a heavy downpour. Even in the rain, Swedish referee Glenn Nyberg stopped play for a hydration break, which the article likens to an American TV timeout. It contrasts that with the NBA, where broadcasters, teams and players all know in advance when commercial breaks will come.

The column says many fans view the change cynically, as another revenue move by FIFA and broadcasters, and some boo the stoppages in stadiums. Netherlands defender Virgil van Dijk also criticized the idea after a match against Japan in air-conditioned Dallas, saying, "It is quite strange, and I do not think fans at home enjoy it. If it is really hot, that is different, but each game should be assessed on its own."

The article notes that Van Dijk later chose not to push the issue further, while Germany coach Julian Nagelsmann said the break helped him adjust tactically after an early scare against tiny Curacao in Houston. It adds that extreme heat in the United States, along with expert advice from Joshua Doincenzo of the U.S. National Center for Disaster Preparedness, explains why FIFA has embraced the breaks and even allowed fans to bring water bottles into stadiums despite selling its own water at high prices. The column concludes that the trend is unlikely to be reversed, just as VAR has stayed in the game, and suggests future tournaments may see even more matches shaped by cooling breaks and, eventually, changes to football’s traditional draws.