Bielsa hit out at FIFA, questions mandatory World Cup drinks break | OneFootball

On the eve of the crucial clash between Uruguay and Cape Verde on matchday two of Group H at the 2026 World Cup, Marcelo Bielsa, true to his direct and reflective style, held a press conference. Beyond analyzing strictly football matters, the Celeste coach delivered strong criticism of FIFA regulations, taking particular aim at the mandatory hydration break implemented in the tournament.

A measure “with no footballing sense”

The coach of the Uruguayan national team argued that the rule has been distorted, since it is applied automatically and inflexibly, regardless of the actual weather conditions of the match or the players’ well-being.

“They add nothing and take away a lot. When the match was split into four parts, football was not what they were thinking about; they were thinking about other repercussions. Now it is done regardless of the temperatures and even in stadiums that are roofed,” the Argentine coach fired back firmly.

The team’s analysis and the matchup against Cape Verde

Leaving the institutional controversy aside, Bielsa focused on his squad’s needs after the 1-1 draw against Saudi Arabia in their opener. La Celeste arrives at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami needing all three points to improve its position in the standings.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇪🇸 here.