Germany has flown in veteran groundskeeper Sebastian Breuning to water and maintain its World Cup training ground at Wake Forest University in North Carolina amid high temperatures, the German newspaper said Image reported.
Breuning, who has been the German Football Association (DFB) grounds coordinator since 2022, was seen tending the heavily dampened pitch with local staff after Tuesday’s training in hot and humid weather.
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FIFA has for the first time made hydration breaks of three minutes in each half mandatory for all 104 matches at the World Cup, which starts on Thursday in the US, Mexico and Canada, after rising temperatures affected last year’s Club World Cup in the US.
«Yes, it needs water. That’s the problem with these temperatures, for drinking and also on the field. And that is being taken care of,» Rudi Voeller, director of the German national team, told Bild.
«The people here are putting in an incredible amount of effort. It’s great to see how much help is being given… Of course the pitch can be harder and drier. But the conditions are quite good. We have nothing to complain about.»
Published on June 10, 2026
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