The 2026 FIFA World Cup is facing serious weather challenges. Because of this, organizers have introduced mandatory water breaks to protect players from the dangers of extreme heat.

2026年FIFA世界盃正面臨嚴重的天氣挑戰。因此，主辦單位引入了強制性的飲水時間，以保護球員免於極端高溫的危險。

Weather reports from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) show a high chance of extreme heat in several host cities between June 30 and July 6. High temperatures are expected in the eastern and central United States, with some areas reaching 110°F. While stadiums in Dallas, Houston, and Atlanta have air-conditioning systems, open-air stadiums in New York, Philadelphia, and Kansas City are more exposed. Consequently, the CDC has warned that the risk of heat exhaustion and heatstroke is higher, especially for people taking certain medications.

美國國家海洋暨大氣管理局 (NOAA) 的天氣報告顯示，6月30日至7月6日之間，多個主辦城市有很高機率出現極端高溫。美國東部和中部預計將出現高溫，部分地區將達到110°F。雖然達拉斯、休士頓和亞特蘭大的場館擁有空調系統，但紐約、費城和堪薩斯城的露天球場則較為暴露。因此，CDC警告，中暑和熱衰竭的風險較高，尤其是服用特定藥物的人群。

To handle this, FIFA has introduced mandatory three-minute water breaks at the 22nd and 67th minutes of every match. This rule applies to all games to ensure fairness, so that no team has an unfair advantage. However, some coaches, such as Thomas Tuchel and Marcelo Bielsa, argue that these breaks disrupt the flow of the game. Furthermore, some critics claim the breaks are actually designed to give broadcasters more time for commercials. FIFA President Gianni Infantino has denied this, emphasizing that the measure is strictly for player safety.

為了處理此問題，FIFA規定在每場比賽的第22分鐘和第67分鐘，必須有三分鐘的強制性飲水時間。這項規則適用於所有比賽以確保公平，使任何球隊都無法獲得不公平的優勢。然而，一些總教練如湯馬斯·圖赫爾和馬塞洛·比埃爾薩認為，這些休息時間會打斷比賽節奏。此外，一些批評者聲稱，這些休息時間實際上是為了給電視轉播商更多廣告時間。FIFA會長吉安尼·因凡蒂諾否認了這一點，強調該措施純粹是為了球員安全。

Outside of the game, these breaks have led to an increase in alcohol sales, as fans use the pauses to visit food and drink stands. This is different from the more strict rules found in European sports. Similarly, other sports have started using heat safety rules. For example, the NWSL has updated its cooling break policies, and Wimbledon uses a heat index to decide when to take ten-minute breaks, although they have faced some technical problems with their electronic systems.

在比賽之外，這些休息時間導致酒精銷售增加，因為球迷利用暫停時間前往餐飲攤位。這與歐洲體育中較為嚴格的規定不同。同樣地，其他運動項目也開始採用高溫安全規則。例如，NWSL更新了其冷卻休息政策，而溫布頓則使用熱指數來決定何時進行十分鐘的休息，儘管他們的電子系統面臨一些技術問題。

The combination of extreme North American summer heat and a strict tournament schedule has led to the use of standard cooling breaks. This has started a debate about how to balance player safety with the traditional flow of the sport.

北美夏季的極端高溫與嚴格的賽事行程，導致必須使用標準冷卻休息時間。這引起了一場關於如何在球員安全與傳統運動節奏之間取得平衡的爭論。