FIFA President Gianni Infantino has defended the introduction of mandatory hydration breaks at the 2026 World Cup, asserting that the measure is based solely on player welfare and not on commercial motives.
Criticism from Players and Coaches
The three-minute breaks, implemented in the 22nd and 67th minutes of every match, have faced backlash from players, coaches, and fans since the tournament's opening round. Critics argue that the stoppages disrupt the flow of the game and provide unwanted advertising opportunities for broadcasters.
England manager Thomas Tuchel stated that the additional break “interrupts and changes the identity of the football match,” while Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa said dividing matches into shorter segments removes the fundamental characteristics of the sport. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente and Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk expressed support for the rule in extreme heat but questioned its necessity in cooler conditions and covered venues.
Infantino's Defense: No Commercial Benefit
“There is no additional revenue for FIFA, as all commercial agreements were signed well in advance. So, this is not a financial issue for us. For us, it is purely a sporting matter,” Infantino said in a statement on Wednesday.
The breaks allow coaching staff to deliver tactical instructions, a shift some say fundamentally alters the nature of the game. However, Infantino emphasized that player health is the priority. “The main reason 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 added.
Ensuring Fairness Across Matches
Infantino highlighted the importance of uniformity: “What matters even more to us is ensuring that all teams, in every match, are playing under the same conditions. It’s very difficult to accept that a coach might have the opportunity to influence a match by making adjustments simply because it’s hotter, while in another match, where the temperature is slightly lower, the same coach doesn’t have the same opportunity.”
He also noted that the breaks have not diminished match intensity, as players maintain high performance levels throughout games.
