Boris Becker recently criticized the hydration breaks introduced at the FIFA World Cup 2026, calling them 'a joke' in professional sports.

The former German tennis player shared his opinion on the new rule, which mandates a three-minute break at the 22-minute mark of each half.

What are hydration breaks?

Hydration breaks are compulsory stops in play to allow players to drink water and cool down.

They will be applied in all 104 matches, regardless of the temperature.

Why are they controversial?

Some coaches argue that the breaks are unnecessary in air-conditioned stadiums and may interrupt the game's flow.

Boris Becker expressed his opposition to the rule, writing on X: 'Drinking Break' …what a joke in professional sports !!!

The debate over hydration breaks has become a major talking point in the sports world.

What's Boris Becker's football connection?

Boris Becker is an avid football fan and has been a supporter of Bayern Munich for years.

He even served on the club's advisory board for ten years and played football before taking up tennis.

As he said in 2009: I am a big fan of Bayern and have been for years.

What's next for the FIFA World Cup 2026?

The tournament, which started on June 11, will continue until July 19, with the hydration breaks rule in place.

Boris Becker's criticism has sparked a lively debate among fans and coaches, with some arguing that the breaks are necessary to protect player health.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 is the first three-nation co-hosting model in FIFA history, with the United States, Mexico, and Canada hosting the tournament.

Boris Becker retired from tennis in 1999 after a 15-year career, during which he won 49 singles titles and 15 doubles titles.

He has been open about his love for football, saying: Football is as much of a love as tennis.

The hydration breaks rule has been introduced to protect player health against the intense summer heat.

But some coaches argue that the breaks are too short to make an impact on cooling the players.

Boris Becker's comments have added to the debate, with some fans agreeing with his assessment and others arguing that the breaks are necessary.

The FIFA World Cup 2026 will continue to be a major talking point in the sports world, with the hydration breaks rule being a key issue.