England national team head coach Thomas Tuchel has commented on the impact of mandatory water breaks at the 2026 World Cup.
Speaking to BBC, the German specialist emphasized that the innovation affects the flow and tempo of matches far more than he initially expected.
"I now think these breaks have a more serious impact than I first imagined. Yes, similar breaks were previously given in matches with unbearable heat. That was a necessity, but those breaks were shorter and only applied in a few games. Now, for fairness, it repeats in every match. Thus, the game is practically divided into four parts. This changes the overall character of the match more than I thought," Tuchel noted.
Recall that according to the 2026 World Cup rules, a mandatory 3-minute water break is held in the middle of each half.
