FIFA president, Gianni Infantino, has defended the use of hydration breaks at the 2026 World Cup, insisting they are intended to protect players and ensure fairness rather than generate additional revenue.
Three-minute hydration breaks have been introduced midway through both halves of every match at the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The measure was adopted to help players cope with varying weather conditions and the physical demands of the expanded competition.
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However, the breaks have drawn mixed reactions from players, coaches and supporters. Some fans have voiced their frustration in stadiums, while television broadcasters in several countries have used the pauses to air advertisements.
Speaking on the issue, Infantino rejected suggestions that the breaks were introduced for commercial reasons.
“There is no additional revenue for FIFA, as all commercial agreements were signed well in advance,” Infantino said.
“This is not a financial issue for us. For us, it is purely a sporting matter.”
Focus on player welfare and fairness
Infantino said the primary motivation behind the breaks was to help players manage the physical demands of a tournament that lasts 39 days and could require some teams to play as many as eight matches.
He added that FIFA also wanted to ensure all participating nations competed under the same conditions, regardless of local temperatures or stadium environments.
“The main reason [for the breaks] is the heat, but we also have to understand that in a competition like the World Cup, played over 39 days, with teams potentially playing eight matches in those 39 days, having a moment to rest is extremely important,” he said.
“What matters even more to us is ensuring that all teams, in every match, are playing under the same conditions.
“And it’s very difficult to accept that a coach might have the opportunity to influence a match by making adjustments simply because it is hotter, while in another match, where the temperature is slightly lower, the same coach does not have the same opportunity.
“We want to ensure equal conditions for everyone and that’s why these breaks are implemented in every match.”
Mixed reaction from coaches and fans
The introduction of mandatory hydration breaks has not been universally welcomed.
England manager, Thomas Tuchel, said the stoppages “change the characteristic of the match more than I thought”, with coaching staff allowed to speak to players and make tactical adjustments during the intervals.
Questions have also been raised because some matches have been played in relatively mild conditions, while others have taken place in air-conditioned stadiums with retractable roofs.
One example was England’s goalless draw against Ghana, which was played in more comfortable temperatures than some other fixtures.
Advertising debate continues
The debate has also extended to television coverage.
While broadcasters in some countries have shown advertisements during hydration breaks, viewers in the United Kingdom have not seen commercial interruptions during the pauses.
According to experts who spoke to BBC Sport, a 30-second advertising slot during World Cup coverage on Fox Sports costs between $200,000 (£152,000) and $300,000 (£227,000), rising to as much as $750,000 (£567,000) during United States matches and the latter stages of the tournament.
Based on those estimates, advertising shown during hydration breaks could generate more than $250 million (£189 million) in the United States market alone.
Despite those figures, Infantino maintained that the breaks were introduced solely for sporting reasons and to ensure player welfare and competitive fairness throughout the tournament.
