V.League implements a rule previously seen at the World Cup due to extreme heat.

Owing to the intense heat that severely affects players' fitness, the V.League 2025/26 is forced to implement a cooling break previously introduced at the World Cup.

The sweltering heat in Hanoi on the evening of May 24 led to a special scene in the V.League 2025/26. During the key match between Hanoi FC and Nam Dinh at Hang Day Stadium, the organizers were forced to implement a mid-half water break (Cooling break) – a regulation that once gained significant attention at the World Cup to protect players' health when competing in extremely high temperatures.

According to observations at kickoff at 7 PM, the temperature around Hang Day Stadium was about 34 degrees Celsius. However, the actual felt temperature was even harsher due to the concrete effect and accumulated heat in the urban core. After just the first 45 minutes, players from both sides left the field with their jerseys soaked in sweat and their stamina noticeably depleted.

Many players had to change their shirts during the halftime break. Some, like Hoang Hen and Passira, were nearly exhausted after the first half, while Xuan Manh even removed his shirt as soon as he entered the tunnel because it had become too heavy from absorbing sweat. This illustrates the extreme conditions the players face in the final stage of the season.

Given the extremely hot weather conditions, the match organizers allowed both teams a short water break during the half. Although it lasted only about three minutes, this period helped players rehydrate, cool their bodies, and avoid the risk of exhaustion or cramps. This was also a solution once adopted by FIFA at the World Cup to protect players in extreme weather conditions.

The concept of the "Cooling break" began to become familiar to global football fans at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. At that time, FIFA was forced to allow players a water break every 30 minutes of play if the outdoor temperature exceeded 32 degrees Celsius. This regulation emerged following a request from the Labor Court in Brasilia to ensure the health and safety of the players.

That World Cup witnessed many European teams struggling with the heat and humidity in Brazil. The Netherlands team was a prime example, as they had to exert themselves against Mexico in the Round of 16 under harsh weather conditions. More than a decade later, the image of the Cooling break now reappears in the V.League, showing that the weather is becoming a real challenge for Vietnamese football during the decisive phase of the season