Pochettino hits out at hydration breaks as South Korea down Czech Republic, Aguirre unimpressed | OneFootball

The World Cup in the United States, Mexico and Canada opened amid a row over mandatory hydration pauses, as South Korea beat the Czech Republic 2-1 and Mexico saw off South Africa 2-0. Mauricio Pochettino objected, and Javier Aguirre was unimpressed despite victory.

The rule, enforced regardless of weather, debuted with play halted on minute 30 of each half in the opener. According to El Periódico Mediterráneo, fans and football figures criticised the disruption.

Pochettino, United States head coach, said it should be reserved for extreme heat, accepting coaches may treat it like a time-out. He dislikes its impact but said teams must adapt and it should not decide matches.

After a goalless first half, Ladislav Krejci put the Czechs ahead on 59, then In-Beom Hwang levelled on 67. Tomas Soucek’s 77th-minute header was ruled offside by VAR, and Hyeon-Gyu Oh hit the winner three minutes later.

Aguirre said the match should have finished 4-0, accepted that fans could boo, and replied wryly to Hugo Broos that if Mexico had been so lost they would have scored five. He added the occasion caused a second-half dip in some younger players.

For South Africa, Sphephelo Yaya Sithole miscontrolled on minute nine for Julián Quiñones’ opener, then saw a straight red on minute 49 for fouling Brian Gutiérrez. He became the first player dismissed at World Cup 2026 and only the fourth with a straight red in an opening match, with three reds shown overall.

Source: El Periódico Mediterráneo