‘It’s tough’: Light-on-light kit matchup, hydration breaks add strange wrinkles to USMNT loss

The similar overall shade of jerseys worn by the two sides caused confusion at home and on-site. Photograph: Shaun Clark/ISI Photos/Getty Images Saturday’s friendly between the US men’s national team and Belgium at Mercedes-Benz Stadium was played indoors, in a climate-controlled environment, on natural grass, even. Inside the cavernous, 70,000-seat venue, the air was a perfect 72 degrees, as it always is.

The stadium’s massive, 8,400-ton HVAC system is designed to cut Atlanta’s stifling summer humidity. On Saturday, they probably could’ve turned the thermostat off entirely: outside, it was a picture-perfect, comfortable spring day. It made it all the more bizarre, then, when the match referee blew his whistle and directed both teams towards their benches for a mandatory hydration break.

While not a completely alien concept in international soccer – these types of breaks are frequently employed when conditions are deemed dangerous to players – they will be mandatory in this summer’s World Cup , regardless of weather conditions or venue. Related: Rampant Belgium deliver 5-2 embarrassment to USA in World Cup tune-up To better replicate World Cup conditions for both sides, the mandatory breaks were put in place for the US and Belgium on Saturday. Many of the 66,867 in attendance were confused by the unexpected stoppage, and boos rained down when the stadium public address announcer clued them in on what was happening.

On the field, though, it offered a first glimpse into the tactical wrinkles that might emerge from these newfound stoppages. Both head coaches clearly used the break to make adjustments and offer their thoughts to players. On the US sideline, head coach Mauricio Pochettino impassionately addressed his players gathered in a circle around him, not unlike a basketball coach might do during a timeout.