World Cup 2026: FIFA allows advertisements to be broadcast during the water break – Algerian Al-Hiwar newspaper

FIFA has decided to allow television advertisements to be broadcast during water breaks in the 2026 World Cup matches, which will be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico next summer.

Last December, FIFA announced the implementation of a 3-minute break in the middle of each half of the matches, as a precautionary measure due to the high temperatures in some host cities in North America, with the aim of preserving the safety of the players.

In this regard, the International Federation explained that the channels broadcasting the matches will have two options during the water break:

• The first is to display advertisements via a split screen in which the match appears in part of the screen, while broadcasting advertisements related to FIFA’s sponsors.

• Second, broadcast a full commercial break without splitting the screen, allowing various commercials to be shown as occurs in traditional commercial breaks.

FIFA has set several controls for broadcasting advertisements during the break, as the advertisements will not begin to be shown until 20 seconds after the referee’s whistle that announces the beginning of the water break, provided that the channels return to live broadcasting at least 30 seconds before the match resumes.

It is noteworthy that the water break was applied in previous FIFA tournaments only when temperatures were abnormally high, as happened in the Club World Cup last summer in the United States. But FIFA decided to apply it in all 2026 World Cup matches, which will reach 104 matches, to ensure unified procedures and protect players.

The 2026 World Cup will begin on June 11 in Mexico City, while the tournament will conclude with the final match on July 19 at New York Stadium in New Jersey.