Are FIFA’s hydration breaks helping or hurting the World Cup? Experts aren’t convinced
For the first time in World Cup history, FIFA has mandated hydration breaks for all soccer players, a move aimed at safeguarding them from the dangers of extreme heat. With this summer's tournament, co-hosted by the U.S., Mexico, and Canada, anticipated to be one of the hottest on record, player welfare concerns are paramount.
In response, FIFA implemented three-minute hydration breaks midway through each half, irrespective of the ambient temperature. However, the new regulation has drawn criticism from two distinct camps.
AdvertisementAdvertisementSome experts argue the breaks disrupt the game's natural flow and offer coaches an opportunity to strategically alter momentum. Conversely, some scientists contend that the three-minute duration is insufficient to provide meaningful cooling or rehydration under scorching conditions.
Joshua L. DeVincenzo, assistant director of applied research services at Columbia University’s National Center for Disaster Preparedness, defended the initiative, stating: "When we look at the three minute hydration breaks, we're really looking at this as a way to mitigate anything that could potentially lead to an incident or an emergency." The new rule underscores the ongoing challenge of balancing player safety with the integrity and demands of elite-level competition.
FIFA's mandatory breaks, regardless of temperatures
This World Cup marks the introduction of mandatory three-minute cooling breaks, implemented midway through each half. These pauses are required irrespective of ambient temperatures, stadium enclosure, or air conditioning.
Football's governing body stated the measure aims to "ensure equal conditions for all teams, in all matches." The decision draws on lessons from previous tournaments, such as last summer’s FIFA Club World Cup in the U.S., where temperatures frequently exceeded 90 degrees Fahrenheit (mid-30s Celsius). While some coaches acknowledge the breaks’ value in extreme heat, they have questioned their universal necessity across all matches.
Even highly-trained, elite athletes can get heat stress
Athletes pushing their physical limits in hot and humid environments face a significant risk: exertional heat illness. This serious condition arises when the body's core temperature escalates dangerously, placing immense strain on vital systems including the heart, nerves, muscles, and central nervous system. Common indicators range from muscle cramps and extreme fatigue to impaired performance, headaches, irritability, nausea, dizziness, and dehydration.
AdvertisementAdvertisementWhen an athlete's internal body temperature surpasses 105 F (40.5 C), the consequences can be severe, leading to confusion, aggression, or even loss of consciousness. Yuri Hosokawa, an associate professor at Japan’s Waseda University’s Faculty of Sport Sciences, highlighted these as "all of which are characteristic signs of exertional heat stroke and require immediate medical attention."
Hosokawa recently co-signed a letter to FIFA in May, advocating for stricter heat guidelines to ensure player safety, specifically recommending cooling breaks of at least six minutes. Tragically, exertional heat stroke during athletic competition is among the leading causes of death for athletes.
Dehydration further compounds this danger. Athletes can lose between 1 to 2 liters (50 to 67 ounces) of sweat per hour in hot conditions, often failing to replenish fluids at the same rate. Even a modest 2% loss of body weight due to dehydration can significantly hinder physical performance.
Ryan Calsbeek, a professor of biological sciences at Dartmouth College, explained that while the human body generally performs better when warmer, there's a critical point where this advantage not only ceases but performance rapidly declines.
"Your body starts to really fall apart, you lose the ability to cool off fast enough," he stated. "And the physiological mechanisms just break down." This critical threshold is typically reached when the wet bulb globe temperature – a measure incorporating temperature, humidity, cloud cover, and wind – exceeds approximately 95 F (35 C), though individual heat tolerance varies.
The mental fog induced by extreme heat can also compromise an athlete's ability to make crucial strategic decisions during a match, Calsbeek noted. He emphasized the fine margins in elite sports: "It’s these marginal differences in performance that I think can determine the outcome of a match.
If you have individuals that do better in extreme conditions, whether it’s extreme heat or high altitude or whatever the case may be, those small differences could play a critical, pivotal role in determining the outcome."
AdvertisementAdvertisementHydration breaks should be longer, some experts say
Mandatory three-minute hydration breaks protect players and referees from extreme heat illness, maintaining performance by allowing cooling and rehydration. Their effectiveness hinges on aggressive methods. Douglas Casa of the Korey Stringer Institute noted applying wet, cold towels to exposed body parts reduces temperature by 0.22 F (0.12 C) per minute.
Casa added, "Some people can tolerate a little more fluids comfortably and then do intense exercise. Some people can’t because it sloshes around in their stomach and they don’t feel super comfortable, so they might not drink as much in such a short period of time."
He stressed duration dictates impact, suggesting longer breaks: "that’s why we’re suggesting doing something like five or six minutes, because it just makes such a big impact when you’re dealing with a change of that magnitude."
Bharat Venkat, UCLA Heat Lab director, highlighted varying individual recovery needs. "Depending on your body, you might need more or less time. But those kinds of breaks are crucial so that your body isn’t just being forced to keep trying to play catch up... to keep trying to cool you down without any kind of rest or a break," he stated.
As the planet warms, mandating hydration breaks and adjusting sports' locations, timings, and formats are necessary. "No matter what sport you play, there’s going to be adjustments that have to be made in the face of climate change," Venkat concluded.
Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price subsidising their life by livestreaming
Venezuela Fury and her husband Noah Price look to be making their own way in the world by raking it in from their lucrative social media accounts.
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury, 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year.
Since getting married and moving in together the couple have been earning thousands of pounds a month, livestreaming their life as newlyweds in their static caravan in the East Riding of Yorkshire.
And fans can't get enough of their regular life updates on TikTok and Kick, which have proved to be very profitable for the pair.
They look to be supporting themselves after Noah denied that he was given £5million by Venezuela's family as a wedding gift.
Despite his wife's huge family wealth, an estimated combined £160 million, Noah recently told his Kick followers that he 'pays for everything' for the couple.
Making light of the claims about Venezuela's millionaire financial status, Noah said: 'I actually pay for everything unfortunately. You'd expect the millionaire to pay for it wouldn't you.'
Venezuela Fury and Noah Price are earning thousands livestreaming their caravan life - after her new groom insisted he pays all the bills and denied he had £5m handout from her dad
The influencer daughter of Tyson and Paris Fury , 16, has become an internet sensation after tying the knot with her husband Noah, 19, earlier this year
Venezuela then asked their fans: 'Do you think I am a millionaire?'
Noah joked: 'She isn't a secret millionaire guys', before she broke into song and sang: 'But I live like a millionaire!'
But it seems according to estimated calculations from their social media work, Noah and Venezuela can more than afford to support themselves.
Noah has been livestreaming on platforms such as Kick and TikTok, where viewers can send paid gifts or donations.
He was previously encouraging viewers to send gifts on his honeymoon during livestreams, suggesting this is one revenue stream.
Both Noah and Venezuela have built substantial followings on Instagram and TikTok. They can potentially earn money through sponsored posts, brand collaborations, affiliate links and creator payouts.
Kick allows its creators to take home 95 per cent of the £4.99 subscription cost that fans pay.
Streamers keep 100 per cent of direct tips and donations, minus minor standard payment processing fees.
It is unclear how many subscribers Noah currently has because this information is hidden, but he does have 7,200 followers which is publicly viewable.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million.
An industry insider has suggested Noah is making around £400 per video on TikTok, while Venezuela is likely to make £2,000 due to her following count of 1.3 million
In one video on their honeymoon, Noah asked his followers if they'd give them some more gifts now that they were married.
In a TikTok live viewed by 20,000 he said: 'Keep liking our videos people, keep sending gifts.'
After saying thank you to several of his followers he joked they should stick around on the livestream and 'watch Venezuela punch me in the mouth'.
The other half of the honeymooning couple said: 'I am, honestly!'
Noah previously confirmed that the pair don't share their finances after they were asked whether they have a shared bank account.
'She earns her money, I earn mine,' said Noah, as Venezuela joked: 'Yeah, what you gonna do about it.'
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'.
Meanwhile Venezuela is being eyed up by executives for a fly on the wall TV series.
Noah went on to debunk the rumour that Tyson gave him £5million when he tied the knot with his daughter as he insisted: 'No Tyson did not give me £5million'
Boasting 1.3 million TikTok followers, Venezuela is already entertaining fans with her honest musings and candid moments, from cooking to kitting out her and Noah's static caravan home.
And following the success of the Netflix series At Home With The Furys, it is no wonder bosses are wanting to draw on the Fury popularity.
A TV insider said: 'The couple are not A-list celebrities but everyone has become obsessed with their love story.
'People are genuinely intrigued by them. Whether it’s the fact they have married so young, Venezuela’s famous family or their gypsy lifestyle, they have the ‘X factor'.
'Several TV executives think a proper fly-on-the-wall series following their lives as newlyweds in the gypsy community would be fascinating,' they told The Sun.
It is thought Netflix would be likely to produce the series due to their already established relationship with the Furys.
Venezuela's representatives told The Daily Mail: 'We have many offers on the table regarding Venezuela which we are discussing.'
