Hydration breaks have sparked plenty of debate during the World Cup so far, with England to face Argentina on Wednesday
The referee pauses the game midway through each half(Image: Getty)
As fans of the World Cup watch England’s players huddle with their support staff during hydration breaks, many are curious about what is in the small bottles and sachets they drink from. During FIFA World Cup matches, players must take two mandatory hydration breaks that last three minutes each.
The referee pauses the game midway through each half, typically around the 22nd minute of the first half and the 67th minute of the second half. On Wednesday, England will go against Argentina. Although specific nutrition plans for each team are rarely shared with the public, these hydration breaks allow players to take in fluids, electrolytes, and other nutrition items aimed at enhancing their performance and recovery.
During World Cup hydration breaks, Thomas Tuchel reportedly has his England players drink a special thermoregulation beverage called CoreCtrl, along with a custom Lucozade electrolyte mix. As FIFA mandates two three-minute hydration breaks per match for the 2026 World Cup, heat management has been a major focus in Tuchel’s strategy for the tournament.
To combat the extreme heat in America, Tuchel’s sports science team is said to have placed a significant pre-tournament order for CoreCtrl. This drink, created by Alistair Brownlee’s nutrition brand, Truefuels, is designed specifically for thermoregulation.
Rather than merely replenishing minerals, it includes active components, such as L-Taurine and a mint flavour. These ingredients are scientifically formulated to help the body cool down more effectively, regulate its rising internal temperature, and delay performance declines during intense sprinting sessions.
During the mid-half breaks, fans watching Tuchel’s team will often see England players sipping from fluid pouches, and the logos are covered with stickers. This is because the team is using a special sodium electrolyte mix created by Lucozade specifically for England.
Since Lucozade isn’t an official sponsor of the FIFA tournament, the branding needs to be concealed. Team nutritionists prohibit plain water in these extreme conditions because regular water can quickly pass through the body as urine without effectively rehydrating the cells.
The custom pouches are reportedly filled with high-sodium electrolytes to help retain fluids. Tuchel’s team is also said to make extensive use of custom ice slushies for players.
Eating crushed ice helps lower the body’s core temperature much more quickly than drinking liquids alone, which helps keep the cardiovascular system stable. The staff has reportedly entertained the England team by naming the recovery blends after players, such as “Bluekayo Saka” and “Thomas Too Cool.”
What has Thomas Tuchel said about World Cup hydration breaks?
Thomas Tuchel has voiced his disapproval of the hydration breaks during World Cup games. Speaking at a conference last month, he claimed that they interrupt the game’s rhythm and alter its “identity”.
He also shared his concerns during the tournament, claiming that the required stoppages in the middle of each half divide the match into “almost four quarters”. Although he understands the need for these breaks in extreme heat, he believes they are excessively long and disruptive compared with the shorter, localised cooling breaks he has encountered before.
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