2026 World Cup: Major changes announced

The flagship tournament is back next year. The World Cup will take place next summer. With kickoff just about 11 months away, FIFA is considering several changes, especially following reviews from the Club World Cup.

For months now, the much-discussed cooling breaks have been gaining popularity in football, particularly due to the recent host countries of major tournaments. This system was implemented during this summer's Club World Cup, allowing all 22 players to recharge at the 30th and 75th minutes, given the extremely tough playing conditions. This move has drawn attention from fans, staff, and most importantly, the players themselves, prompting FIFA to step into the debate.

According to information from L’Équipe, FIFA is weighing two options: either reschedule matches to 9 a.m. instead of noon or 3 p.m., or double the number of cooling breaks. In this new format, breaks would occur twice per half (15th, 30th, 60th, and 75th minutes).

Back in 2022, the issue had already been addressed as all stadiums were air-conditioned at the time. However, in the United States, only five out of the 16 Club World Cup venues have this technology and/or are covered. FIFA is now seeking solutions to avoid overexerting players during the 2026 World Cup.

Joshua SOSSOU

Editorfr, en, ar

As a sports fan, and particularly a football fan, I've been putting my writing talent to good use for a number of years now to promote African talent and the continent's football in general. On Foot Africa, enjoy reading each of my lines.