World Cup hydration breaks can’t escape the grasp of American capitalism | Opinion

American capitalism is impossible to ignore in everyday life, but nowhere is its reach more glaring than on the World Cup stage — most notably in the guise of the so-called hydration breaks. What are these and, why do they matter?

For American TV viewers, they mean more commercials. More commerce. More brands.

For generations, a soccer match was two 45-minutes halves with a halftime interval in between for player recuperation and commercials. But in this World Cup, which is already drawing impressive TV ratings, players are getting “hydration breaks” at around the 20 to 25 minute mark of each 45-minute half. It years past, play was only halted for hydration breaks if game temperatures put players at risk. But now, they feature in every game.

That’s why when England plays Ghana on Tuesday, I’ll keep my tradition of watching on Telemundo, the Spanish-language broadcasting giant. In that game, Bee meteorologist Sean Macaday forecasts that game-time temperatures in Boston will be in the mid to low 70s.

I’m watching Telemundo because unlike Fox Sports in English, it doesn’t cut away to air commercials during hydration breaks. In a landscape eager to monetize every pause, it’s a small but meaningful stand for integrity.

Watching Telemundo has put my three college courses of Spanish to the test. It’s been refreshing to experience a broadcast that allows the viewer to focus on the game.

FIFA, which oversees the global rules of soccer, claims these pauses are essential for player welfare, a response to the punishing heat and player outcry during last summer’s Club World Cup. Yet, not every host city faces extreme temperatures. When the USA faces Türkiye in Inglewood on Thursday, the forecast for 7 pm, when the game kicks off, is 68 degrees. They will have no problem, added that they will be playing in SoFi Stadium, which is an indoor-outdoor stadium, which filters out UV rays and allows for natural breezes to cool everyone inside.

Some cities will face genuinely harsh conditions, where hydration would help the athletes. According to Macaday, the Scotland vs. Brazil match on Wednesday in Miami is expected to be played in temperatures reaching 85 degrees. With humidity factored in, it could feel closer to 90.

A hydration break in Miami right now makes sense. In other games, these breaks have opened a new window for commercial broadcasters, who lost no time filling the enforced pause with advertisements. A simple water break into a carefully orchestrated commercial event.

FIFA is fluent in capitalism. Some great American cities, such as Chicago, opted out of being part of World Cup because the desire of FIFA to make a killing was too high. Others play along. In Santa Clara, FIFA had locals cover the Levi’s logo at Levi’s Stadium because it wasn’t an official sponsor.

The World Cup gives nations a chance to unite and celebrate cultures and common humanity — experiences that compete with commercial greed.

That’s why I’ll stick with the Spanish commentary, with my Duolingo app open. I’d rather work a little harder to understand the game than spectacle be upstaged by profit. Sometimes, we have to defend the value of undisturbed moments — on the field and off.