Legendary footballer Diego Maradona captivated millions of fans with his magic on the pitch. However, it is not just his playing career that is making headlines; a commentary he made regarding the World Cup nearly eight years ago has resurfaced and sparked fresh discussion.

In a 2018 interview, Maradona predicted that hosting a World Cup in the United States would heavily prioritize commercial interests, suggesting that attempts might eventually be made to divide matches into four quarters. In his view, the primary objective of such a move would be to maximize advertising opportunities.

Maradona reminded everyone at the time that ahead of the 1994 World Cup, a proposal had emerged from the US to host matches in four 25-minute quarters. Commenting on this, he had stated that the Americans wanted to split the game into four 25-minute periods simply to serve advertising interests.

While matches have not been split into four quarters at the ongoing 2026 World Cup, mandatory hydration breaks are being enforced due to extreme heat. Broadcasters are utilizing these intervals to air commercials. Consequently, many on social media are drawing parallels between current realities and Maradona’s past remarks.

However, football experts note that the primary purpose of hydration breaks is player safety and managing matches safely under high temperatures. While commercial broadcasting during these breaks is a financial byproduct, it is not equivalent to changing the fundamental rules of football to institute a four-quarter system.

In the same interview, the 1986 World Cup-winning Argentine captain also reacted sharply to the selection of the co-hosts for the 2026 World Cup. Regarding Mexico, he had remarked, "Mexico doesn't even deserve it. The moment the Mexicans face Germany or Brazil, boom, they are knocked out of the tournament."

He had also taken a swipe at the football culture in the US and Canada, claiming that neither nation possesses a genuine passion for the sport, adding that Canadians are better off as good skiers.

The late legend's comments have gained renewed traction, particularly with the commercial exploitation of hydration breaks during tournaments in the US. Nevertheless, analysts emphasize that safety-driven cooling breaks should not be conflated with the structural proposal to divide football matches into four quarters.