More break: Game union wants 20 minutes half -time break

The heat in the United States is attracting the players – now the player union calls for a longer half -time break with a view to the health of the players, it could take 20 minutes.

At nine out of 16 venues of the 2026 World Cup in the USA, Mexico and Canada, there are high or even extremely high health risks due to heat, said Professor Dr. Vincent Gotuttbarge, the medical director of the International Fifpro Game Union, at a media appointment on Monday. He referred to Florida and the two cities of Orlando and Miami, where the players at the club World Cup plague with the heat.

“You can imagine that a half of 15 minutes may not be enough to bring down the body temperature”said Gutbarge. That is why you now examine alternatives. “That could be a half -time of 20 minutes.” 20 minutes are also necessary to absorb enough liquid. In August there should be tests in Portugal.

Further idea: more breaks to cool off

According to the rules, a break for cooling is currently allowed per half of the game, it must not exceed three minutes. Gouttbarge brought into play to enable several and shorter breaks. It is not just around 2026. “We assume that there will be other, maybe even worse problems in Spain and Portugal in the coming years.”

FIFA President Gianni Infantino commented on the subject in 2022 with a view to the 2026 World Cup. “We see that relaxed”he said at the time. “There are stadiums with closable roofs. We will take into account where you can play in the afternoon and where you should better play in the evening. Many factors play a role.” There have been sports policy tensions between FIFPRO and FIFA for some time. In the meantime you get a little closer, Fifpro spoke of one “Good reaction” The FIFA on your concerns at the club World Cup.

Borussia Dortmund coach Niko Kovac spoke after the game at the club World Cup against Mamelodi Sundowns from “irregular conditions” At temperatures of over 40 degrees. “We play football, but it has nothing to do with sport itself.” Bayern Munich coach Vincent Kompany also complained about the heat. A team from the Leibniz Institute for Labor Research at the TU Dortmund, which examined the climatic conditions at the World Cup venues, had already made the alarm last year and also had a “Very high risk of extreme heat load” noted. The perceived temperature could even reach 49.5 degrees Celsius at some venues, the Deutschlandfunk quoted from the study that this was one for the players “No longer tolerable health burden”.

So far, longer breaks have been rejected – because of the health of the players

The paradoxical situation: So far, the regular keepers from the International Football Association Board rejected a longer half -time break – with a reference to the health of the players. In 2021, the South American Association of Conmebol applied for an expansion of the half -time from 15 to 25 minutes, the plan was a commercial use of time.

The Ifab rejected that. “There were concerns about the possible negative effect on the health of the players if they are longer inactive”the Ifab said at the time. Several prominent ex-players are part of an IFAB advisory committee. The majority pressed reservations at the time, for some the 15 minutes are actually too long. There was no scientific basis for the decision yet – now the discussion could begin again.

Eight voting members sit in the Ifab. Four come from FIFA, four from the British associations of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. A three -quarters majority is necessary for a change of standard. To date, it is expressly in the regulations: “The half -time break must not exceed 15 minutes.”

South America sat over the rule

The South American association at Copa América 2024, which is comparable to the European Championship in Europe, stood across this requirement. Shakira occurred in the break of the final between Argentina and Colombia, the break lasted 25 minutes. The Colombian national coach Néstor Lorenzo said at the time: “This can have an impact on the players. They could cool down, which increases the susceptibility to injury.”

FIFA also plans a half -time show at the 2026 World Cup, based on the model of the Super Bowl. “Sports, music and culture will merge to combine the world”said FIFA President Infantino. The discussion could accommodate the World Association on a commercial level and enable the half -time show to a greater extent.

Another topic in the heat: the kick -off times

FIFPRO also asked FIFA to check the kick -off times with a view to the well -being of the players. And this also deals with commercial interests, since the games are tailored to relevant television markets. “It is clear that there is a higher risk in certain regions of the United States, especially in Florida and a kick -off must be avoided at lunchtime”said FIFPro director Alexander Bielefeld. “The health and safety of the players must have priority over commercial interests, including those of the television station.” The Leibniz Institute at the TU Dortmund also announced that it should think about moving the games into the evenings as much as possible.