Rio Ferdinand thinks a controversial World Cup idea will soon come to the Premier League.
With the FIFA World Cup 2026 bringing in lots of new rules, Rio Ferdinand thinks one of the most talked-about changes might soon show up in club football, starting with the Premier League and La Liga.
Many of the new referee rules have worked well at the World Cup. For example, faster goalie kicks and throw-ins have made the game quicker (even if Andy Robertson wasn’t a fan), and being more relaxed about natural body contact has stopped easy free-kicks from being given too often. VAR has also done a good job, with no major mistakes so far.
But some rules have caused more debate. For instance, Miguel Almiron was the first player sent off for covering his mouth during an argument — something fans think Jude Bellingham got away with. The most talked-about rule, though, is the hydration breaks.
Recently, Jurgen Klopp supported Van Dijk’s view that the mandatory three-minute hydration breaks are too long and disrupt the game for players and fans. While working as a TV pundit in Germany, Klopp said the breaks feel a bit too long for just having a drink. But he also admitted they can be fun at the stadium, especially with things like cheerleaders during stoppages in Dallas. At home, though, they can feel like long commercials — but for him, it’s also a nice chance for a quick bathroom break!
FIFA President Gianni Infantino also spoke up to defend these breaks. He said there’s no extra money for FIFA from them since all deals were made earlier, and that the breaks are really about the sport, not money.
Even though some players and fans find hydration breaks annoying, Rio Ferdinand thinks we’ll see them in the Premier League before long. He told The Athletic that if teams and countries want more money, they’ll have to accept some changes. He said the breaks don’t really mess with the game much and money talks. If FIFA made a lot more from these breaks at the World Cup, leagues like the Premier League might want to try them too — and he understands why.
Adding hydration breaks to Premier League games, especially on cold nights in places like Sunderland, would be a big change. But for big events like the FA Cup Final, it’s easy to see why the English Football Association might want to give it a go.