Former U.S. women’s national team star Mia Hamm has expressed reservations about FIFA’s decision to implement mandatory hydration breaks during all matches of the 2026 World Cup, citing potential disruptions to game momentum and tactical advantages for coaches.

Hamm, who led the United States to World Cup titles in 1991 and 1999, told USA TODAY that while she understands the league’s intentions, the three-minute breaks at the 22-minute mark of each half could alter the natural flow of matches. The two-time champion emphasized that soccer’s beauty lies in its continuous play and players’ ability to adapt during games.

The hydration breaks, previously used only in extreme heat conditions, represent a significant change for the expanded 48-team tournament being hosted across North America. FIFA’s decision aims to protect player health amid concerns about heat and physical demands.

Hamm noted that the breaks provide coaches with additional time to make tactical adjustments using technology like iPads and sideline communication. “It can be a momentum change for a lot of teams that are really going after teams,” she said. “Then all of a sudden you get a break and now these coaches have iPads on the sideline.”

Player and Coach Perspectives

The introduction of mandatory hydration breaks has generated mixed reactions throughout the tournament. Several players and coaches have questioned their necessity, particularly in matches played under moderate conditions.

Critics argue that the breaks interrupt game rhythm and provide unfair advantages for tactical adjustments. Supporters emphasize player welfare and the importance of preventing heat-related issues during intense competition.

Hamm acknowledged the importance of player safety while expressing preference for traditional match structure. “I just would rather them play 45 minutes with added time just through rather than cutting it short,” she said.

The U.S. women’s national team legend praised the current men’s team’s performance and spirit. “There’s no one who supports the men’s team stronger than the women’s national team players, both current [and] past,” Hamm said.

Tournament Context

The 2026 World Cup’s expanded format and North American venues have introduced various logistical and environmental considerations. Host cities have implemented measures to ensure player and fan safety during summer matches.

FIFA’s hydration policy reflects broader efforts to address player welfare in modern football. The organization has increasingly focused on medical protocols and match conditions in response to evolving scientific understanding.

The United States men’s national team has performed strongly in the group stage, advancing with positive results. Their success has boosted national interest in soccer and highlighted the sport’s growing popularity in America.

Historical Perspective on Player Welfare

Soccer governing bodies have gradually implemented changes to protect players from extreme conditions. Previous tournaments used hydration breaks selectively during particularly hot matches.

The mandatory application across all 2026 games represents a significant policy shift. FIFA’s decision balances player safety with maintaining competitive integrity and match flow.

Hamm’s perspective carries weight given her experience as a pioneering women’s player and advocate for athlete welfare. Her comments reflect the views of many who value soccer’s traditional continuous play.

Broader Implications for the Sport

The hydration break debate highlights ongoing discussions about balancing tradition with player safety in professional sports. Similar conversations occur across various athletic disciplines regarding rest periods and environmental conditions.

FIFA’s approach could influence other sports governing bodies considering similar measures. The policy’s effectiveness will be evaluated based on player health outcomes and match quality.

The 2026 World Cup’s focus on player welfare aligns with broader industry trends toward evidence-based approaches to athlete care. Scientific research continues informing decisions about training, recovery and competition conditions.

U.S. Soccer’s Growing Prominence

The strong performance of the U.S. men’s national team has generated excitement and increased visibility for American soccer. Their success demonstrates progress in player development and competitive infrastructure.

Hamm emphasized the interconnectedness of men’s and women’s programs. “We know how hard it is. We know the opportunity in front of them,” she said regarding the men’s team’s chances.

The co-hosting of the World Cup has accelerated soccer’s growth in the United States. Infrastructure improvements, youth participation and professional league development have all benefited from increased attention.

Looking Forward

As the tournament progresses into knockout stages, hydration breaks will continue being implemented. Their impact on match outcomes and player performance will be analyzed by coaches, players and medical staff.

FIFA may evaluate the policy’s effectiveness after the tournament concludes. Feedback from participants and observers could influence future decisions about match protocols.

The debate around hydration breaks reflects soccer’s ongoing evolution as a global sport. Balancing tradition, player welfare and competitive fairness remains an important consideration for governing bodies.

Hamm’s comments contribute to important discussions about the sport’s direction. Her perspective as a legendary player and advocate carries significant influence in shaping opinions about modern football practices.

The 2026 World Cup continues delivering memorable moments while prompting conversations about the game’s future. Player welfare, tactical innovation and competitive balance will remain central themes as the tournament advances.

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A second ransom note connected to the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie, mother of “Today” show co-anchor Savannah Guthrie, indicated that the 84-year-old had died shortly after she was abducted from her Tucson, Arizona, home in February, according to multiple news organizations that reported on the note’s contents this week.

Nancy Guthrie was kidnapped from her home in Catalina Foothills, a suburb of Tucson, on February 1, 2026. Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said he believed she had been abducted, and a multi-agency investigation involving the Pima County Sheriff’s Department, the FBI and U.S. Customs and Border Protection has included forensic analysis, neighborhood canvassing and a review of surveillance footage. Bloodstains found at the scene were confirmed to be Nancy’s.

She was last seen at her home on the evening of Saturday, January 31, 2026, after her son-in-law, Tommaso Cioni, dropped her off at approximately 9:50 p.m. Cioni, who is married to Guthrie’s daughter Annie, is the last known person to have seen her. When she failed to appear for a scheduled livestream of a church service the next morning, a member of her congregation alerted the family, who went to check on her, searched the property, and found no sign of her before calling 911 around noon. Deputies who responded noted that Guthrie’s phone and other essential belongings, including her medications, were left behind in the home.

Ransom demands followed within days

In the days after she vanished, multiple ransom notes of undetermined origin demanded payment in cryptocurrency, with two deadlines that had already passed by February 9. The first note demanded a ransom of millions of dollars. In a video released on February 7, Savannah Guthrie said, “we will pay,” and the ransom demand was later reported at $6 million with a deadline of 5 p.m. on February 9.

On February 24, the family offered $1 million for information that helps in her recovery. The FBI later released a surveillance photo on February 10 showing a potential subject in the investigation.

The second note’s contents stayed private for months

A ransom note reportedly sent on February 6, 2026, claimed that Nancy died shortly after her kidnapping, but law enforcement asked that its contents be kept private so as not to interfere with the investigation. The note was not revealed publicly until June 22, 2026.

According to law enforcement sources who spoke to CNN, the note said, in essence, that the kidnapping “wasn’t intended to work this way” but that “in the course of the kidnapping some things happened and Nancy Guthrie is dead,” according to CNN Chief Law Enforcement and Intelligence Analyst John Miller. Investigators believed both the ransom note and the note describing her death were legitimate communications from whoever took her.

NBC News reported additional detail on the note’s contents. Three people familiar with the matter told NBC News that the note indicated Nancy had died but contained no apology for allegedly taking her and made no request for payment for the release of her body.

A specific phrase from the note also circulated this week. A source close to the investigation told NewsNation correspondent Brian Entin that the note said Nancy died and was “buried with nature now,” and that the note indicated her death was not intentional, though it did not include a direct apology. Authorities have not publicly confirmed the note’s authenticity.

Law enforcement told Tucson station KOLD that the two notes received by the Guthrie family are believed to have come from the same person. While the notes were not sent from the same IP address, the sender appeared to have used the same type of secure server to conceal it, according to KOLD reporter Mary Coleman.

News outlets held back details for months

Several news organizations that received the notes said they delayed publishing their contents out of concern for the investigation and the family. KOLD’s Coleman wrote on Facebook that the station “held off on sharing the contents of the notes” because it “wanted no part in compromising the investigation and out of respect for the family.”

The notes were sent to Tucson media outlets that investigators deemed potentially credible, and the FBI attempted to trace their origin. Shortly after receiving the second note, Savannah Guthrie posted a statement on Instagram on February 7 saying, “We received your message and we understand.”

Questions about additional alleged communications also surfaced this week. TMZ founder Harvey Levin said in a video that his outlet received an early note saying Guthrie was “scared but OK,” but he said claims that TMZ had received a separate ransom note containing an apology to the Guthrie family were false.

Investigation remains active

The Pima County Sheriff’s Department told CNN this week that the investigation remains “active and ongoing,” and referred further questions about the ransom notes to the FBI. The FBI has recovered doorbell camera images of an armed and masked man outside Guthrie’s home on the morning of her disappearance and has described that man as a suspect.

As of June 25, 2026, Nancy Guthrie has not been located, and the case has drawn international attention, with Savannah Guthrie suspending her broadcasting duties, including coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics, to take part in the search before later returning to “Today.”

Savannah Guthrie has repeatedly appealed to the public for help. On June 23, she said on “Today,” “No matter how much I try to come out here every day and smile and find that joy, and I will, I promise I will, this is a moment to tell you that we need your help. We’re begging for your help, and I’m not going to miss that opportunity. And so please if you’re watching, no matter how small, the reward is there. You can tell us, it can be anonymous. Please do the right thing for us, for our family, for our children. We love our mom, and we’ll never stop looking for her, ever.”

Anyone with information has been urged to contact the FBI at 1-800-225-5324.

A separate, unverified lead emerged from outside the official investigation. Ramona Guadalupe Ayala Ortiz, leader of the Mexican missing-persons group Buscando Corazones Nogales, told the newspaper El Imparcial that her organization received an anonymous tip on June 10 claiming Nancy’s remains were buried near the U.S.-Mexico border, prompting a search of the area. “We received an anonymous call telling us that the woman’s remains were in the Mariposa area in a grave over a stream,” Ayala Ortiz said, “and this time we came to explore this stream that we failed to explore in the first intervention.” No trace of Nancy Guthrie has been found, despite the group uncovering more than 20 unmarked graves during its search.

Investigators have not publicly tied that tip to the case, and no arrests have been announced. Authorities continue to ask anyone with information about Nancy Guthrie’s disappearance to come forward.

Finding an air conditioned space during the heatwave has been a topic of conversation for many people.

A red warning of extreme heat has affected millions of people – schools have closed, transport has been disrupted and people have been searching for cooler spaces in which to work or rest.

Churches, community centres, museums and libraries have been providing free ‘cool spaces’, helping people to take a break from the rising temperatures.

But some people are going a step further and installing air conditioning in their homes. For companies like Aircon Services in Tamworth, business is booming with domestic inquiries rising by 300% in the last six years.

People were not willing to tolerate the heat anymore co-founder Marc Newbold said adding air conditioning was starting to be viewed as a necessity not a luxury.

Ninety percent of UK homes will overheat during the summer by 2050, the National Housing Federation said.

Homes have historically been designed for the colder weather with the aim of keeping heat in.

Overheating occurs when indoor temperatures rise to an uncomfortable level, typically exceeding 25C to 27C.