Loud boos “rained down from the stands” during the two FIFA-mandated hydration breaks at the Croatia-England World Cup match in Arlington, according to Charles Baggarly of the FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM. Dallas Stadium has a retractable roof and air conditioning, yet it “still uses the breaks.” While the 92-degree Texas heat “can pack a punch outside, the climate-controlled indoor stadium is approximately 74 degrees.” England F Morgan Rogers said, “The hydration break definitely helped us kind of regroup and refocus and go again.” He added he is “a fan of them.” Baggarly: “Judging by the boos, a good amount of spectators in attendance held a different opinion than Rogers” (FORT WORTH STAR-TELEGRAM, 6/17). In Toronto, Dan Bilicki wrote the fans in attendance at Toronto Stadium for Ghana-Panama “booed loudly” at the hydration break announcement as the countdown began and the many watching at home were treated to some advertisements. When play resumed, the crowd “was noticeably less lively for the following few minutes and the momentum on the pitch had been dulled.” In the second half, it “arguably was even worse.” The game had “just sprung to life,” but the ref “blew his whistle and sent the two sides for some refreshments in the rain as the 40,000-plus in attendance booed loudly.” He added at least this time, the teams did not “take long to start applying some real pressure again” (TORONTO SUN, 6/17). REUTERS’ Nick Mulvenney noted there were also boos from the crowd when the first hydration break started on Tuesday in Norway’s match against Iraq at Boston Stadium, where the temperature “was a mild 23 degrees Celsius (73.4 degrees Fahrenheit)” (REUTERS, 6/17).
CAUSE AND EFFECT: The AP’s James Robson wrote critics of the breaks say that they are “having unintended consequences, ruining the flow of the game and giving coaches a chance to tactically shift momentum in their team’s favor.” While player welfare “is a real concern with temperatures expected to exceed 90 F (32 C) in the hottest World Cup venues,” some say that the breaks are “just an excuse for broadcasters to go to commercials in the middle of the game.” Rather than players merely taking on fluids, coaches have “been seizing the opportunity to pass on in-game tactical instructions that would normally not be possible.” And “early indications are that it is having an effect” (AP, 6/17). GLOBE & MAIL’s Cathal Kelly wrote out of nowhere, this World Cup has “become a sort of football laboratory.” Traditionally, there is “only one opportunity during a game to truly coach -- during the half,” but now “there are three” (GLOBE & MAIL, 6/17).
IN FAVOR: ESPN.com’s Mark Ogden wrote so far this summer, no World Cup game “has been impacted by such excessive heat” and FIFA amended the fixture list following the Club World Cup “for more games under cover and fixtures being played at times more likely to have less punishing conditions.” But he noted it is “still hot, so there is support for the hydration breaks” (ESPN.com, 6/16).
OTHER BROADCASTS: In L.A., Cerys Davies wrote frustration from the mandatory breaks has “pushed some viewers toward an alternative: Telemundo.” The Spanish-language network, available through the Peacock streaming platform, “opted for minimal hydration break ads” instead of full-screen takeovers. During the Mexico–South Africa match, while Fox aired its full-screen ad, Telemundo “kept players on camera, let its commentators share their thoughts and ran a Lays ad in the corner of the screen.” The network has “described it as a conscious decision to prioritize authenticity and keep viewers immersed” (L.A. TIMES, 6/16). THE ATHLETIC’s Tom Burrows noted in Canada, TSN has shown commercials during the breaks. Elsewhere, the majority of TV stations broadcasting matches in Europe are also showing commercials. Broadcasts in Spain, Italy, France, Ireland and Germany have shown ads. In the U.K., the BBC is “commercials-free, while ITV has chosen not to show ads.” In Brazil, the main terrestrial broadcaster, Globo, has “avoided the temptation of extra advertising” (THE ATHLETIC, 6/17).
