Why was there no hydration break in France vs Iraq second half in FIFA World Cup 2026?
(Courtesy : Getty)
This match was delayed for more than two hours due to adverse weather during half time
France faced Iraq in their second Group I clash in the ongoing FIFA World Cup 2026 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia on July 22. Les Bleus took an early lead courtesy of a goal from Kylian Mbappe, but the second half was delayed by more than two hours.
Mbappe scored in the 14th minute to put his side ahead. As a result, Didier Deschamps’ men took a slender lead at half-time, hoping to add to the tally in the second half. However, the restart faced a significant delay as the match was suspended due to lightning strikes.
The match saw heavy rainfall soon after kick-off, but lightning strikes led to the second half being suspended, according to FIFA’s protocols. After a long delay, the match resumed, with the Lincoln Financial Field pitch being dried and made safe to play on.
Also Read: Why was France vs Iraq delayed?
No hydration break
The match restarted once the referee deemed that the weather conditions were safe. However, fans were alerted to a slight regulation change: the lack of a hydration break in the second half.
As the stands were still drenched from the previous downpour and rain was still drizzling intermittently, the organisers likely deemed a hydration break to be of no use. Furthermore, committing three minutes to a needless ritual would have extended the match’s time even more.
Fans on social media welcomed the change, as hydration breaks have been a contentious issue ever since they were introduced by the football governing body in this year’s expanded 48-team tournament in North America.
Meanwhile, Mbappe scored soon after the restart to double France’s lead, while Ousmane Dembele scored in the 66th minute to put his side in control of the match.
What are FIFA’s hydration break rules?
Normally, FIFA has mandated a three‑minute hydration break at the 22‑minute mark of each half in FIFA World Cup 2026 matches.
Why was there no hydration break in France vs Iraq second half?
The second half resumed after a two‑hour weather delay with rain still drizzling, so organisers deemed a hydration break unnecessary and avoided extending match time further.
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Sushruta has spent over two years covering football, with a particular focus on Indian and international competitions. Alongside football, he has reported on a variety of sports, bringing curiosity and perspective to every story. When he’s not following the action, he can usually be found binge-watching movies or getting lost in a good book.