Infantino defends World Cup hydration breaks as purely sporting, says FIFA may keep them beyond 2026

A controversial change

Mandatory three-minute hydration breaks, taken at the 22nd and 67th minute of every match at the 2026 World Cup, have become one of the tournament's most contested talking points. Introduced after player complaints about heat during the last Club World Cup and formally announced in December 2025, the breaks are designed to help footballers cope with temperatures across North America. A Climate Central analysis cited by El Confidencial found that 97 of the 104 tournament matches have a raised probability of heat conditions that could affect performance.

But the rule applies in every venue, including air-conditioned domes such as Atlanta's stadium, where fans have loudly jeered the stoppages. Broadcasters have used the three-minute gaps to run extra commercials, featuring stars like USA captain Christian Pulisic and former England captain David Beckham. Critics argue the interruptions effectively split each half into two blocks and let coaches deliver tactical instructions, altering the rhythm of the game.

Infantino's defence

In statements issued Tuesday and Wednesday and in an SNTV interview, Infantino pushed back hard against accusations of commercial motivation. "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," he said, according to a FIFA release. The Swiss-Italian official, 56, insisted the governing body earns "absolutely nothing" from the advertising shown during the breaks.

Infantino argued the pauses might actually improve the show. "Maybe the coach can reassess certain situations, correct certain mistakes. The players get a little rest and come back in full speed. Well, is that bad necessarily? Maybe it's good," he told SNTV. He added that the tournament's intensity has not suffered: "We've never seen 90 minutes in a tournament like this played in such an intensity. Until the last second of the match, players attack."

Fairness or disruption?

Equity between fixtures is a cornerstone of Infantino's case. He said applying breaks only in hot matches would give some coaches an advantage. "If we were to use hydration breaks only in those matches where it was too hot and not in the other matches, we would give an advantage or a disadvantage to some of the coaches or some of the teams. Why would the coach have the opportunity to influence the game in one match just because it's hot and in another match where it's a bit less hot, he wouldn't have this opportunity?"

Several high-profile voices disagree. England manager Thomas Tuchel said the additional break "interrupts and changes the identity of the football match," while Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa argued that splitting matches into shorter segments removes a fundamental characteristic of the game. Spain coach Luis de la Fuente and Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk supported the intent behind the rule in extreme heat but questioned its necessity in cooler conditions and covered arenas.

It interrupts and changes the identity of the football match.

Dividing matches into shorter segments takes away the fundamental characteristic of the game.

Tournament off the pitch

Infantino also praised the overall event, calling it "the most successful event in history" on FIFA's website. After 44 of 104 matches, total attendance stood at 2,851,010 (an average of 64,796 per match and 99.6% stadium occupancy), putting the tournament on course to surpass the all-time record of 3,404,252 set at the 1994 World Cup in the United States. Infantino said the expansion to 48 teams, which brought debutants Cape Verde and Curacao, has been fully justified by performances and results.

What comes next

Infantino said FIFA will evaluate the data from this World Cup and consider keeping hydration breaks for future tournaments "based on this experience." In Germany, UEFA and the German Football League have already stated that no blanket hydration breaks will be introduced in the Bundesliga or European club competitions; decisions will be made match by match depending on weather conditions. Whether the breaks become a permanent feature of the global game is now a live question, with the debate set to intensify as the knockout rounds approach.