J-League introduces mandatory drinking‑water time and cooling breaks for summer games

The Japanese professional football league announced new heat‑safety rules for the 2026‑27 season, which begins on August 7. A "drinking‑water time" will be mandatory throughout the core summer period (August 7‑30). When the WBGT heat‑stress index reaches 31 °C or higher, a three‑minute cooling break will be taken in each half; at 28‑31 °C a one‑minute drinking‑water pause is required.

For lower WBGT ranges, the pause can be used if either team wishes (25‑28 °C) or only if both teams agree (22‑25 °C). The league clarified it will not adopt FIFA’s “hydration break” used in the recent North/Central American World Cup, opting instead for its own temperature‑based system. These measures respond to Japan’s recent classification of days over 40 °C as "extreme heat" and aim to protect player health while maintaining competitive play.