Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.Jump to contentIndependentSwipe for next articleIndependent Bulletin homepageDownload our appAllNewsSportCultureLifestyleNick MulvenneyWednesday 17 June 2026 23:33 BSTEngland fans go wild over opening goal of World Cup 2026Fans at Dallas Stadium loudly booed the mandatory hydration breaks during England's World Cup match against Croatia, unequivocally expressing their disdain for the controversial new innovation.Fifa introduced these three-minute stoppages, one in each half, for the first time at this tournament, ostensibly to help players cope with the intense heat and humidity of the North American summer.Critics argue the breaks severely disrupt the natural flow of the game and are perceived as a cynical manoeuvre to divide matches into four quarters, creating more lucrative advertising opportunities.Similar vocal disapproval for the hydration breaks was heard at Boston Stadium during Norway's match against Iraq, where Iraq conceded a goal just four minutes after a break and ultimately lost 4-1.Another instance saw World Cup debutants Curacao lose 7-1 to Germany after a break taken shortly after they had equalised, suggesting the stoppages can impact game momentum.In fullWorld Cup fans boo hydration breaks during England vs Croatia clashThank you for registeringPlease refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in