Coach of one of the participating national teams speaks out against hydration breaks

The opening stages of the 2026 World Cup have sparked debate over hydration breaks, with one national team head coach expressing his opposition to the practice.

Details: The coach in question is Mauricio Pochettino, who said he is not particularly fond of the idea, especially when weather conditions do not warrant it.

Quote: “Hydration breaks? I don’t like them. I only support them in extreme conditions. But when the conditions are good, they’re unnecessary,” Pochettino said.

Meanwhile, the officiating team for the Saudi Arabia–Uruguay match took to the pitch wearing pink kits. The design was chosen as a tribute to the host city of Miami, drawing inspiration from the area’s historic flamingo population, its iconic pink sunsets, and its famous pink Art Deco architecture.

Reminder: On the opening day of the 2026 World Cup group stage, Saudi Arabia faced Uruguay, and the match featured an unusual moment involving the Saudi Arabian flag.