World Cup stadium DJs are fighting hydration break boos | CNN
Atlanta —
There’s a not-so-silent war being fought at World Cup games around the country.
The battleground? Hydration breaks. The weapon of choice? Karaoke.
The two mid-half pauses for hydration (and advertisements) have been met with increasingly loud boos from crowds who are frustrated at FIFA turning matches into de facto four-quarter affairs. And the best way to get them to stop booing is, apparently, to get them to start singing.
⚽️ sign up for THE beautiful game by cnn sports ⚽️
- CNN Sports will give you behind-the-scenes reporting from the World Cup, expert analysis and point you towards the biggest storylines of the day. Click here to sign up for the newsletter (it’s free!).
In the second half of Thursday’s match between South Africa and the Czech Republic, the hydration break was met with a chorus of boos. It only took a few seconds for “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver to blast through the stadium speakers, turning those jeers into a 67,000-person singalong. A similar scene played out during Sunday’s match between Spain and Saudi Arabia.
During England-Croatia in Dallas, it was The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside” that was used to combat the boo birds. In Seattle, where the USA defeated Australia 2-0, it was a brass band that had the stands grooving rather than booing during the brief intermission. Back in Dallas when Argentina and Austria played in a Group J match, it was the 1993 super hit “Macarena” by Los del Río.
Scotland’s Tartan Army takes over Miami Marlins game
After turning out in Boston last week, Scotland fans brought the same energy to a baseball game in Miami ahead of their team’s upcoming match against Brazil. CNN’s Randi Kaye reports.
1:12 • Source: CNN
Scotland’s Tartan Army takes over Miami Marlins game
1:12
It’s a move well in line with the Beautiful Game’s traditional atmosphere – but a tactical bit of nous from the DJs at American stadiums who are pulling the strings.
Soccer – football in much of the world – has a long and wonderful tradition of singing, whether that be in praise of their favorite players, mocking opponents (sometimes, brutally so) or simply urging their team forward. The atmosphere in much of the world during a match is musical and vibrant.
Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni talks to Lionel Messi and Alexis Mac Allister during a hydration break on Monday.
It’s a stark contrast to the American way of watching a live sporting event, which are largely driven by commands given to the crowd from the numerous screens in stadia around the country. Prompts to “Make some noise!” or demanding that “EVERYBODY CLAP YOUR HANDS!” or the rhythmic pounding of drums to generate chants of “De-fense!” are the standard.
Team Iran thanks LA for hospitality after World Cup game
The Iranian soccer team left a handwritten note in the team's locker room in Los Angeles after their World Cup soccer game against Belgium on Sunday. The Iranians thanked the city of Los Angles for its hospitality. CNN's Leila Gharagozlou reports how tensions between the US and Iran have impacted the treatment of the Iranian team at the World Cup.
Team Iran thanks LA for hospitality after World Cup game
1:31
But a party atmosphere like the World Cup definitely lends itself to a full-throated singalong. From the pregame atmosphere in the bars, fan festivals, trains, shuttles and marches to the anthems to the postgame singalongs that have gone viral (“Wonderwall” for the English, “Country Roads” again for the USA), the sound of singing is being heard from coast to coast this summer.
And it’s that mood upon which stadium DJs are capitalizing.
The hydration breaks in this World Cup have been polarizing, in that the poles are “kinda dislike” and “severely loathe.” During their opening match against Croatia last week, England fans seemed to cross a metaphorical Rubicon by booing the hydration breaks and now the general discontent is spreading throughout the host cities as fans make their displeasure known.
A FIFA World Cup trophy is displayed at the Akron Stadium, where it arrived as the second part of its tour in Zapopan, Mexico on February 28, 2026. (Photo by ULISES RUIZ / AFP via Getty Images)
CNN’s Ultimate World Cup Quiz
Hydration breaks for warm-weather games have been around for a while now, but this World Cup has made them mandatory – even inside climate-controlled facilities like the ones in Dallas, Houston, Atlanta and others. That’s sparked complaints of Americanization of the games – essentially splitting the two 45-minute halves into four 22-and-a-half-minute quarters.
That is anathema to many of the visiting fans – and, to be very clear, the overwhelming majority of the American soccer fans who are in attendance as well. Once the English broke the dam, the boos now rain down on the pitch as the broadcast crews cut to commercial.
When the jeers fly, it’s become a sort of parlor game to observe just how quickly the stadium DJ will hit play on a trusted singalong track to change the vibe in the stadium. It’s rarely more than a couple seconds.
The gambit usually works. Karaoke might be a Japanese term, but the desire to sing at the top of one’s lungs with thousands of strangers to a famous tune? That’s universal.
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.'
