The French team gained confidence on Thursday 26th March by winning 2-1 against Brazil, two and a half months before the start of the World Cup on June 11, 2026.
In addition to the convincing performance of the Blues, another key event in the match was noted by the audience at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, near Boston, and the television viewers. Two three-minute breaks were signaled by the referee, allowing the players to rehydrate. These interruptions took place in the middle of each half.
This “hydration break” principle is already familiar to football fans when the temperature in the stadium is very high. However, the thermometer at this stadium near Boston only showed 13 degrees on Thursday. This modification to the game was introduced by FIFA and will be in effect this summer during the World Cup held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada.
For Deschamps, these breaks “interrupt everything”
If the refreshment did not seem necessary for the 22 players in the match, these breaks are inspired by the course of matches in popular sports disciplines in the United States, co-host of the upcoming edition of the World Cup. American football (NFL) or basketball (NBA) matches are played in four quarters instead of two halves.
This new rule change has left Didier Deschamps puzzled. “It changes things naturally. If you are in a strong moment or if the opponent is in a strong moment, the three minutes (of hydration break, Ed.), it interrupts everything,” judged the French coach in a post-match press conference on Thursday.
Temperatures are expected to be higher across the Atlantic during the premier football competition this summer, as was observed during the Club World Cup in 2025. In addition to being important for the players, this new rule provides an opportunity for advertising during these breaks, similar to what is done in the NFL or NBA.
