FIFA has introduced mandatory hydration breaks midway through each half of every World Cup match, a change designed to protect players from the heat. Crucially, the breaks will now happen regardless of the weather conditions on the day.
That marks a clear shift from the previous approach. In the past, extra water breaks were only brought in when the temperatures, humidity and conditions reached a certain level. Now the breaks are being made mandatory across every game in every host city.
The move comes in direct response to criticism FIFA faced over its heat protocols. At last year's Club World Cup in the United States, heat and humidity were highlighted as affecting a large number of players, and the governing body came under fire for how it was handling the conditions.
Some of those players spoke out at the time about how hard it was. They described struggling during matches, feeling dizzy and feeling sick, accounts that helped push the issue of heat to the centre of the conversation around the tournament.
FIFA has also turned its attention to supporters. It says it is bringing in more facilities for fans, including extra cooling measures such as shaded areas and misting systems, acknowledging that heat is likely to be a significant issue with several host cities in the United States and Mexico hot during the summer.
Even so, not everyone is convinced the measures are sufficient. There are groups, including scientists and some players, who say the changes still do not quite go far enough given the extreme conditions that could be experienced over the course of the tournament.