AIBU to hope the USA crash out the World Cup because of this FIFA corruption?

100% this.

Teams are using it for tactical reasons but that’s absolutely not why they were introduced in the first place.

Games don’t all need the same format - there have been matches in the past when hydration breaks were included while other games in the same tournament didn’t have them.

In the Qatar Workd Cup, hydration breaks were only used on an as-needed basis. So why suddenly for the US World Cup has FIFA decreed that there MUST be a hydration break, even in stadiums where conditions were cooler than the U.K? It doesn’t take a genius to figure out what’s really happening.

The PRIMARY reason hydration breaks have been introduced for every game is for US advertising - FIFA are keeping the money-men happy.

The reason why hydration breaks are getting booed during every match is because fans know it’s a cynical money-spinning move that’s designed for the US market - player comfort and safety isn’t what’s driving this.

Also worth pointing out that multiple coaches have said that the hydration breaks often aren’t needed. Many of them are opposed to them being used like this.

We’re now looking at a 45-minutes without halftime for the Final with seven different acts lined up to perform, Super Bowl-style.

We have the closing ceremony coming shortly after - there’s no need to fuck up the match timings. I don’t know how players will go back on the pitch without warming up again!

This World Cup has been a disgrace from FIFA.

@Namingbaba No. Not entirely. It’s so that all games have the same format. There are no differences. In moderate temps it’s not needed but if you are actually understanding the nature of the breaks, they have developed into tactical team talks. It also means teams are playing to the 4 quarters model. That’s been very clear. I definitely don’t want to see football played in 35 degree heat with no hydration breaks. I object to playing a winter game in the summer full stop - but hydration breaks are now tactical breaks. Not sure how you’ve missed this?

Plenty of competitions feature hydration breaks in some games but not others. The conditions before the game are assessed and it’s determined whether they will be needed.

The hydration breaks have given teams the chance to regroup and been beneficial in some cases. But at other times it’s been disadvantageous because it’s killed momentum.

As the old saying goes, football is a game of two halves - not four quarters. No one wants players to suffer so if FIFA are stupid/corrupt enough to organise a tournament in a stadium that’s too hot to play a full half, then of course hydration breaks should happen.

The issue isn’t about hydration breaks occurring when they’re vital - it’s about the fact that they were only insisted on in this tournament to please US moneymakers because they need to squeeze in an advertising break. It’s not about player welfare or improving the game.

I totally support hydration breaks when they’re necessary - but not when they’re implemented for financial reasons.

They are not going to have hydration breaks for some and not others! It’s way too hot for football in too many cities. However teams are now using the hydration breaks as part of tactics. England did. The medics have talked at length about the need for hydration and safety of players and if FIFA will choose hot countries, this is where we are. Spain/Portugal will be the same. Much better in South America (mostly) in 8 years time. It’s fifa that’s the problem but I want fit players. Playing at altitude was wrong too because it benefitted Mexico and no one else.

Yes, money hungry.

They don’t understand how the game works. Momentum, possession and stamina are completely broken with the hydration breaks, which aren’t even needed if there’s AC.

Hydration breaks are for the US tv networks for advertising!

They were part of stadiums with air con and when it’s been 17c

Trump is reported to present the World Cup. Remember when he presented Chelsea with the World Club Cup, he pocketed a winners’ medal. Then stayed whilst the Chelsea players were cheering. Cole Palmer’s face was a picture.

Plus Chelsea has a replica trophy as Trump has the real one in the Oval Office

Can you imagine if Belgium wins it?

@Namingbaba I think Lukaku is a bit unfit!

@Crushed23 Do you not understand irony! Trump has obviously taken NO notice of football and doesn’t know the rules! How long do you think his interest has been in the actual game? The same applies to millions of Americans. They are very new to watching football and have only started due to this World Cup. Plenty of Americans thought Trump was correct. They don’t have 140 years of playing football. I agree other countries don’t either but they are not blatantly trying to rig a game via their presidents complaining!

I have been waiting for them to crash out from the start 🇧🇪🇧🇪🇧🇪🇧🇪🇧🇪

They started a war for no good reason and have been rounding up their own citizens. If Russia are disqualified, so should the US. If you condemn Qatar for human rights violations, condemn the US too.

They have also done a poor job of hosting. These hydration breaks in air conditioned stadia just show how poorly they understand football and how money hungry the whole thing is. Disgusting. Glad they are out. Sad it took this long. Well done Belgium.

I still think Lord Dampnut will try to steal the trophy, like he did from Chelsea.

My money is on Spain in the next match, but Lukaku won’t make it easy for them.

Then Infantino got involved in 2016. Interesting.

Any bets Trump will now make some belittling comments about ‘soccer’ not being a proper game for bigly true American men or suchlike anyway?

The US played shite from the off. It was a foregone conclusion to me! I sat there biting my tongue as I was next to American DP with our American neighbours all around (we live here). Wanted to scream haha.

2 weeks ago? You know soccer has been around for much, much longer than that lol. And no one is trying to undermine the myriad of other countries whose ‘interest in football’ is relatively new, are they. I wish people would leave politics, xenophobia and god knows what else out of football - it cheapens the beautiful game FFS.

Anyway, the (much) better team won, and bring on Spain v Belgium!

@Crushed23 Hmm! Belgium aren’t that great right now! The USA team were undermined by this intervention. It should never have happened. The USA team played very flat and the spirit was gone. I have a great deal of sympathy for them and they accepted the rules. The fact huge numbers of Americans don’t understand the rules or the affect this row could have on the team, means they maybe should not get involved with football. They aren’t cut out for a game they did not “invent” or have any interest in until 2 weeks ago.

That was because he didn’t get to win the Nobel Peace Prize

Doesnt warrant that at all

I’m in the US too and definitely behind Belgium!

I do find it amusing that some posters were insinuating that an ‘intervention’ from the president could make a sub-par team win against Belgium, then in the same breath also complain that Americans don’t understand football. The irony!

Really looking forward to Spain v Belgium 🔥

The ‘FIFA Peace Prize’ was awarded to Trump. Now FIFA have overturned a USA player’s suspension purely based on a phone call from the orange buffoon.

He will be president in July 2028, if he is still lingering.

Dementia, circulation issues, breathing badly, obese (he’s not 225lb that White House says - more like 300lb), plus whatever he’s having injected via IV - bruises on back of hands.

He has already joked he won’t run for a third term. That would be unfair or something.
Which I would interpret to mean he is seriously thinking about it.

He’s busy posting about the Obamas…again.

He will get round to the football eventually.

I’m bloody glad. Trump should not be interfering with sport nor the president of FIFA shouldn’t have caved in with Trump’s toddler tantrums.

If Trump still lingering on to dear life in two years (he’s sicker than White House say) time it will be the Olympics in LA. Dread to think what Trump do. More nationalities, more athletes.

Another event that Trump will ruin with his interference.

The Trump Touch - the opposite to the Midas Touch. Everything he touches, turns to disaster, embarrassment etc