Israeli Football League Reviews World Cup-Style Water Breaks

The Israeli Football Leagues Management is considering adopting the water breaks introduced for the first time at the 2026 World Cup, according to a report aired Wednesday on Kan Reshet Bet’s “Tzeva HaKesef.” Under FIFA’s decision, which governs world football, players are supposed to get a three-minute rest and refreshment break in the middle of each half, including time to drink water.

The breaks are also commercially valuable, since advertisers gain more airtime and FIFA indirectly benefits as well. The article notes that FIFA’s most recent World Cup set record revenues approaching $13 billion.

In Israel, the league says it is examining the idea because summer, autumn, and sometimes spring conditions can be especially difficult, including high humidity, and because the pauses could improve player health. At the same time, there is concern that some fans will oppose the change because it would add 6 to 10 minutes to the overall length of each match.

League chairman Erez Kalfon told Kan News, “We are following the water breaks at the World Cup that FIFA decided on. Of course we will wait for the tournament to end, see FIFA’s conclusions, those of the teams, the players and the fans, and then we will examine whether to apply it in Israel as well. Everything has pros and cons, and at the end of the World Cup we will examine everything professionally.”