{"podcast":{"title":"More than the Score","slug":"more-than-the-score-7480348","podcast_index_feed_id":7480348,"rss_url":"https://podcasts.files.bbci.co.uk/w13xtw8x.rss","website_url":"http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w13xtw8x","image_url":"http://ichef.bbci.co.uk/images/ic/3000x3000/p0m0crxh.jpg","author":"BBC","episode_count":236,"summary":"Unexpected questions and beyond the scoresheet chat. More than the Score tells stories from all over the world of sport. From Formula One to netball, MMA to figure skating, and Grand Slam tennis to Diamond League athletics. We've got interviews with extraordinary athletes, as well as the experts working behind the scenes, from football super-agents to the coaches keeping athletes in peak form. Plus, we've got the expertise of the BBC's top journalists, who share their insights from decades of covering sport at all levels. And if you've got your own take on the stories we cover, we'd love to hear from you. Email morethanthescore@bbc.co.uk , or WhatsApp us on 0044 800 032 0470. You can find more information, along with our privacy notice, on our website: www.bbcworldservice.com/morethanthescore","last_synced_at":"2026-07-24T04:17:02.085809+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/more-than-the-score-7480348"},"episode":{"title":"World Cup 2026: Are hydration breaks here to stay?","slug":"world-cup-2026-are-hydration-breaks-here-to-stay","published_at":"2026-06-18T10:46:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/more-than-the-score-7480348/world-cup-2026-are-hydration-breaks-here-to-stay","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/more-than-the-score-7480348","url":"http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0nspfmm","audio_url":"http://open.live.bbc.co.uk/mediaselector/6/redir/version/2.0/mediaset/audio-nondrm-download-rss/proto/http/vpid/p0nsp7dg.mp3","summary":"Fifa has introduced mandatory hydration breaks for this World Cup, essentially splitting the games into four quarters. The mandatory three-minute drinks stoppage at all 104 games has been introduced to help players cope with the stifling heat and humidity levels in Mexico, Canada and the United States. It has been criticised for allowing coaches to make tactical changes while broadcasters can - and many have - opted to cut to lucrative commercial breaks while play is halted. It has attracted criticism from the likes of the Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk and USA head coach Mauricio Pochettino. Fifa says the measure \"is part of a focused attempt to ensure the best possible conditions for players, drawing upon the experiences of previous tournaments, including the recent FIFA Club World Cup.\" Lee James is joined in Toronto by CBC's Olympic and Sports commentator, Matt Cullen, and BBC Football Tactics Correspondent, Umir Irfan, to discuss who benefits from a mid-half break in play - players or broadcasters? More than the Score brings you more than the men’s football World Cup - the new teams, standout stars, trends and fandoms shaping the tournament in ways the stats don’t show. With 48 teams competing across Mexico, the US and Canada, BBC World Service promises to take you deeper - from the group stages to the final. Search for More than the Score wherever you get your BBC podcasts.","meta_description":"Fifa has introduced mandatory hydration breaks for this World Cup, essentially splitting the games into four quarters. The mandatory three-minute drinks s…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1533,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/more-than-the-score-7480348/episodes/world-cup-2026-are-hydration-breaks-here-to-stay/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/more-than-the-score-7480348/world-cup-2026-are-hydration-breaks-here-to-stay.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}