politics
Fox Aired Full-Screen Ads During Hydration Break While Telemundo Did Not
Fox cut to commercials during a three-minute hydration break in the Mexico versus South Africa match, missing about ten seconds of play when the broadcast returned.
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Fox aired a full-screen advertising break during the second half of Mexico’s match against South Africa at the 2026 World Cup. The referee called the hydration break just after Mexico scored its second goal. When the broadcast returned, play had already resumed for approximately ten seconds.
FIFA introduced three-minute hydration breaks at the 2026 World Cup, scheduled once each half in every match regardless of temperature. The breaks were added due to concerns that players could struggle in the heat of North America during the summer tournament. Drink breaks made their World Cup debut at the 2026 tournament.
FIFA requested that broadcasters return to the match feed 30 seconds before play resumes after a hydration break. Fox did not meet that timing in the Mexico versus South Africa match. Telemundo, the Spanish-language World Cup broadcaster in the United States, did not cut to full-screen advertising during hydration breaks.
Fox holds the English-language broadcasting rights for the 2026 World Cup in the United States. Fans on social media criticized the decision. One viewer wrote on X that the ads were “absolute nonsense” and called for an immediate end to the practice.
U.S. sports coverage, while others said missing live action was unacceptable.
