Hydration Breaks Spark Debate at 2026 World Cup
Booing fans and disgruntled pundits have highlighted one of the most contentious issues of the 2026 World Cup: hydration breaks. While not entirely new, these breaks are now occurring twice during every match in the tournament for the first time.
Some spectators argue that these breaks are less about hydration and more about providing broadcasters additional advertising opportunities. They contend that the breaks disrupt the natural flow of the game and are unnecessary in air-conditioned stadiums.
Regardless of these opinions, hydration itself has become an increasingly prominent topic of discussion worldwide.
Scientific Attention on Hydration
"Hydration is a key issue,"says Andreas Flouris at the University of Thessaly in Greece.
"We definitely see it, from a scientific point of view, gaining more and more attention."
With climate change intensifying heatwaves, public health campaigns are encouraging increased fluid intake.
In this context, hydration-focused gadgets have flooded the consumer electronics market in recent years, ranging from sweat monitors to toilet bowl urine analysers. But the question remains: do they work?
Not drinking sufficient water is a widespread problem. A 2023 study suggested that one in four UK adults aged 65 or older were dehydrated due to inadequate fluid intake.
Additionally, a 2018 study by Flouris and colleagues assessed hydration levels in 139 workers across Europe, finding that 70% were dehydrated to a degree that could impair cognitive function and motor control.
Hydration Technology: Sweat Analysis and Wearables
Proponents of hydration technology claim their products can assist users. Roozbeh Ghaffari, co-founder and chief executive of US-based Epicore Biosystems, notes that while devices like the Apple Watch and Fitbit popularized step counting, sweat analysis represents the next frontier.
Epicore Biosystems produces sweat-analysing devices including single-use sticky patches and sleeve-like wearables. These devices track sweat flow rate, sodium (salt) content, skin temperature, and other metrics.
A new armband and app combination offers to evaluate "hydration readiness" based on real-time sweat data, aiming to prevent dehydration before it occurs.
"With this new generation of our wearables, we could figure out what type of risk profile you have based on your sweat score,"says Ghaffari.
Some devices gently vibrate to signal when it is time to hydrate, helping users avoid dehydration.
Epicore Biosystems reports that its devices are used not only by athletes but also by workers on construction sites, oil and gas facilities, and airports, where exposure to high temperatures and physical exertion are common.
Scientific Skepticism on Sweat Sensors
Flouris expresses some skepticism regarding sweat-sensing technology.
Referring to various unnamed sweat-analysing devices he has tested in the laboratory, he states,
"Most of these products that we've tested do not show the level of accuracy that you would expect."The results of his experiments remain unpublished.
He suggests sweat sensors perform best during prolonged physical activity, such as marathons, but struggle with varied and intermittent exertion, like a footballer alternating between walking and sprinting.
In response, Ghaffari notes that he and his colleagues have published peer-reviewed papers validating the accuracy of Epicore Biosystems' devices.
He acknowledges that analysing sweat loss over short intervals (up to 20 minutes) can be challenging but asserts their products are effective for workouts lasting 30 minutes or longer.
Smart Water Bottles and Habit Formation
Among the most common hydration-focused products are smart water bottles that remind users to drink throughout the day.
"We try to make it fun,"says Cem Bakiş, head of business development at WaterH, which offers a glowing ring that blinks to prompt hydration.
"You can add friends, you can earn points."
While some smart bottles estimate liquid weight and consumption over time, WaterH employs sensors detecting the bottle’s tilt angle and fluid flow rate to determine when a sufficient quantity has been consumed.
Bakiş emphasizes that the bottle immediately recognises adequate hydration.
Addressing mixed online reviews regarding measurement accuracy, Bakiş explains that calibration issues are often the cause and can be easily corrected.
Urine Analysis for Hydration Monitoring
For those preferring not to rely on water bottles, devices like Vivoo offer urine-analysing technology that attaches to the toilet bowl rim, promising unprecedented insights into hydration status.
The device uses optical sensors to measure urine specific gravity, which compares urine density to clean water. Generally, higher density indicates greater dehydration. Vivoo’s website notes that its products are not intended for medical diagnosis.
Flouris confirms that urine-based measurements are commonly used in scientific hydration studies but notes a delay can occur between dehydration onset and detection in urine.
Potential Emotional Impact of Hydration Tracking
Hydration-monitoring gadgets are considered "interesting" by Tamara Hew-Butler at Wayne State University, though she raises concerns about potential anxiety induced by constant health tracking.
"More metrics, reminders and goal-setting are not necessarily what everyone needs. It's added some information – but it's also, I think, added a bit of an emotional burden,"she says.
Bakiş clarifies that the WaterH smart bottle aims to help users build hydration habits rather than cause stress.
A spokeswoman for Vivoo acknowledges concerns about frequent health tracking causing anxiety, stating,
"Vivoo's smart toilet technology is designed around passive, routine-based testing. Users do not need to take additional steps or repeatedly check an app throughout the day."
Specialized Uses and Adaptability of the Human Body
Hew-Butler suggests hydration technology could have specific applications, such as sweat monitors alerting coaches when team members become dehydrated. This is particularly useful for individuals reluctant to admit weakness.
"What technology does is it gives us this immediate result,"she says.
She emphasizes the importance of avoiding both dehydration and over-hydration but notes that the human body is more adaptable than often assumed.
"There is a little bit more of a range of safety there."
