Former Ivory Coast star Salomon Kalou has voiced his opposition to FIFA’s mandatory hydration breaks at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, insisting the pauses interfere with the natural rhythm of football rather than improving the spectacle.
Speaking during a SuperSport media roundtable on Monday, the former Chelsea attacker argued that professional footballers are capable of managing their hydration without scheduled stoppages during matches.
“I don’t think it’s necessary because players can always drink water whenever they need to,” Kalou said.
Kalou believes the enforced interruptions have a direct impact on the flow of games, allowing teams to regroup and altering the momentum that often defines high-level competition.
“The hydration break distorts a team’s chemistry and the momentum you have built to undo your opponents. Football is about rhythm, intensity and staying focused, and those breaks can change everything.”
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FIFA first implemented mandatory cooling and hydration breaks during the expanded FIFA Club World Cup staged in the United States before adopting the same policy for the 2026 World Cup. The governing body has defended the decision as a player welfare measure, pointing to the high temperatures and challenging weather conditions expected across the tournament’s host nations — the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Kalou’s comments add another voice to the ongoing debate over balancing player safety with preserving the uninterrupted nature of the sport, particularly as global tournaments are increasingly played in demanding climatic conditions.
The 40-year-old enjoyed a distinguished playing career that began at ASEC Mimosas before his prolific spell at Feyenoord, where he scored 35 goals in 67 appearances to earn a high-profile transfer to Chelsea.
During six successful seasons at Stamford Bridge, Kalou collected an impressive list of honours, including the 2012 UEFA Champions League, the Premier League title, four FA Cups and the League Cup. He later featured for Lille, Hertha Berlin, Botafogo and Arta/Solar7 before bringing his playing career to an end.
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On the international stage, Kalou represented Ivory Coast 93 times, scoring 27 goals and appearing at the 2010 and 2014 FIFA World Cups. He was also a key member of the Elephants squad that captured the 2015 Africa Cup of Nations, crowning a career that established him as one of his country’s finest footballers.
