Water breaks will be enforced at every World Cup match next summer, FIFA has announced.
The three-minute breaks will be called by referees at the midway point of each half, and are being introduced following discussions with coaches and broadcasters.
Chief tournament officer Manolo Zubiria said: "For every game, no matter where the games are played, no matter if there's a roof, (or) temperature-wise, there will be a three-minute hydration break. It will be three minutes from whistle to whistle in both halves.
"Obviously, if there’s an injury (stoppage) at the moment of the 20th or 21st minute and it’s ongoing, this will be addressed on the spot with the referee," he added.
Ireland are still in the hunt for qualification for a fourth World Cup, with a play-off against Czechia due in the spring, with North Macedonia or Denmark playing the winner of that game.
If the Republic can advance, then they face games against South Korea in Guadalajara (8pm local time), South Africa in an air-conditioned stadium in Atlanta (noon local time) and finally Mexico in Mexico City (7pm local time).
Infamously, Ireland were beaten by the Mexicans at USA 94 in Orlando where temperates reached the low 40s, with the Irish players visibly struggling with the heat.
These are different times, however, with the breaks implemented for player welfare reasons, with temperatures and humidity set to be high at World Cup venues which do not benefit from air conditioning.
FIFA finalised its schedule for the 104 World Cup matches on Saturday, a complex exercise which included an analysis of average temperatures at venues as well as a number of other factors.
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