Why I dislike the World Cup hydration break – Netherlands’ Van Dijk

Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk has voiced criticism of the mandatory hydration breaks introduced at this summer’s World Cup, arguing that the pauses interrupt the flow of play and appear to serve television broadcasters more than players.

After the Netherlands’ 2‑2 draw with Japan on Sunday—played inside the climate‑controlled AT&T Stadium—Van Dijk was asked about the necessity of the breaks in a venue that was not experiencing extreme heat.

The 34‑year‑old defender, who scored the opening goal of the match, laughed before offering a candid assessment.

“Hydration breaks are a bit interesting, because I was obviously watching almost all the games up until today, and every time going to commercial is a bit … Not really that I like it,” Van Dijk said.

“I think for the neutral watchers on TV it’s also not great. If it’s really hot, obviously it would be good to put them in. But I think you have to look at it in every game, separately, in my opinion. But I think I’ve said enough already for that.”

FIFA introduced the three‑minute breaks in each half for all tournament matches after extreme heat incidents during last summer’s expanded Club World Cup.

Critics, however, contend that the rule serves a commercial purpose as well as player welfare. The concern grew in March when FIFA allowed broadcasters to air commercials during the pauses, a window that several networks have since exploited.

Beyond the commercial angle, the breaks are also being questioned for their tactical effect on the pitch.

Following Sunday’s fixtures, Germany head coach Julian Nagelsmann said the first‑half hydration break was invaluable for his side, giving his coaching staff a timeout to regroup after conceding an equaliser in their eventual 7‑1 defeat of Curaçao.

Vanguard News

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