​Why they water soccer field before game, during halftime, in hydration breaks originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.Much has been made about the hydration breaks at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementBut during those breaks, as well as before matches and at halftime, it’s not just the players getting hydrated.They also do a lot of watering of the field, or the pitch as many call it.Some players have gotten caught by the surprise sprinklers during the tournament.Some, as shown above, have chosen to give themselves a quick cleaning when the sprinklers come on, too.It’s very logical, and it’s pretty standard practice at these matches.MORE: Christian Pulisic gives a terrible answer after World Cup-ending lossA better-watered pitch allows for less friction.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementThat helps the ball move faster and creates smoother-flowing action.To be fair, these fields at the World Cup are fantastic and probably wouldn’t suffer a ton without water.If a pitch was particularly dry, the ball could get held up or even bounce around a bit on a more uneven surface.This watering at the World Cup just makes sure the surface is perfect for everyone playing in these massive matches.Erling Haaland brought a wild $750 gift home from the World CupAn on-brand finish to Neymar’s Brazil careerLionel Messi makes announcer lose his mind in 35-second goal callJerry Jones booed during World Cup match in DallasActor who played Dani Rojas in Ted Lasso makes pro soccer debut