Sip Happens: World Cup Hydration Breaks Explained

Sip Happens: World Cup Hydration Breaks Explained

Author: US Soccer | Cumulus Podcast Network April 29, 2026 Duration: 29:15
Last year, FIFA announced that every World Cup game will pause for three minutes in each half for a hydration break. The policy was tested in the last international window, and many observers said that the breaks have fundamentally changed soccer. How? That’s the question we answer on this week’s episode of the U.S. Soccer Podcast presented by Henkel when U.S. Under-19 Men’s National Team head coach Gonzalo Segares joins host Meghan Klingenberg to discuss.   0:00 – Cold open  2:44 – Gonzalo Segares joins the show  4:08 – Gonzalo explains how the breaks will be used for tactics  6:57 – How Gonzalo has seen other coaches use the breaks to their advantage 13:23 – Will the breaks create a game of four quarters?  19:47 – Discussion of how the breaks might impact the flow of games  25:52 – Ask the Pros presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts    The U.S. Soccer Podcast presented by Henkel is a production from U.S. Soccer hosted by David Gass, former USWNT star Meghan Klingenberg and USMNT great Alejandro Bedoya. The podcast brings you in-depth interviews with U.S. Soccer stars of the past, present and future. Episodes drop weekly on Wednesdays.  Host: Meghan Klingenberg  Producer: Matthew Nelson  To learn more, visit http://www.ussoccer.com/podcast  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Each week, the U.S. Soccer Podcast opens up a direct line to the individuals shaping the sport across the country. Host David Gass guides these Wednesday conversations, which are less about formal interviews and more about genuine discussions with coaches, staff, and players from every corner of the American game. You’ll hear from figures connected to the senior national teams, of course, but the dialogue consistently extends to the youth setups and the broader ecosystem dedicated to development. This approach provides a unique, ground-level perspective on the efforts to advance soccer in the United States. These are honest and often uplifting chats that go beyond scores and tactics to reveal the personal stories and professional philosophies driving progress. Tuning into this podcast means getting a clearer sense of the people behind the programs, from emerging talents to the seasoned minds guiding them. It’s an ongoing series of conversations that collectively map out the present and future of U.S. soccer, delivered through a partnership between U.S. Soccer and the Cumulus Podcast Network with support from Henkel.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 52

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Step inside the heart of soccer in America with the U.S. Soccer Podcast. Every Wednesday, host David Gass sits down for honest, uplifting conversations with voices from across the soccer landscape. We'll be introducing y…