The 2026 World Cup will bring a uniquely American sports tradition to the beautiful game: Mid-match ad breaks

Brazil 2014 had no-hassle “vanishing spray.” Qatar 2022 brought in much-debated video assistant referees. The 2026 World Cup, to be held in the U.S., Canada, and Mexico, might already have confirmed its own next-gen contribution to the world’s game, and it happens to be a mainstay of American sportswatching.

In December, FIFA, the governing body responsible for organizing the World Cup, announced that this summer’s tournament will feature two scheduled three-minute hydration breaks in every game...