FIFA President Gianni Infantino Defends World Cup 2026 Hydration Breaks, Says 'Not About Money'

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has hit back at mounting criticism surrounding the mandatory hydration breaks at the FIFA World Cup 2026, asserting that the pauses are fundamentally about player welfare and maintaining competitive balance, not financial enrichment for the governing body. The widespread backlash has seen fans booing the three-minute stoppages, particularly in air-conditioned stadiums where extreme heat is less of an immediate concern. What Are Cristiano Ronaldo-Led Portugal’s FIFA World Cup 2026 Knockouts Qualification Scenario After Congo DR’s Win Over Colombia?

FIFA President Clears Air

Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, June 23, Infantino addressed the controversy head-on. "I want to stress this because I hear as well it's about money; it is not," he declared. "We don't make one dollar more in revenues in FIFA with these hydration breaks. Because all our contracts were signed well ahead of the decision to have these breaks."

The Rationale Behind the Breaks

Infantino outlined several reasons for the universal implementation of the breaks, which occur around the 22nd minute of each half. He argued that they allow coaches to "reassess certain situations, correct certain mistakes" and provide players with a "little rest" to return "in full speed," thereby contributing to the high intensity observed in matches.

A key point of his defense was ensuring "sporting equity" across the expanded 48-team tournament, co-hosted by Canada, Mexico, and the United States. The tournament spans diverse climates, with some matches played in severe heat, as highlighted by a Guardian analysis which found games in Miami and Monterrey were played in conditions a players' union previously warned should trigger delays. Infantino reasoned that applying hydration breaks to every match, regardless of conditions, prevents an unfair advantage or disadvantage. "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," he explained. Will Neymar Play in Scotland vs Brazil FIFA World Cup 2026 Football Match?.

The introduction of standardized hydration breaks has been one of the most debated innovations of the 2026 World Cup. While FIFA insists on player welfare, critics suggest the stoppages resemble American-style timeouts, providing additional slots for television commercials. Broadcasters like Fox Sports in the United States are reportedly taking full advantage of this new ad inventory.

Fans have made their displeasure known, with loud boos heard at various venues, including Boston Stadium during England's match against Ghana, when teams went to the sidelines for a break. Coaches have also raised questions about the breaks disrupting the natural rhythm of the game. FIFA World Cup 2026 Schedule Today (June 25): Timings in IST, Venues, Groups.

The Road Ahead

Despite the controversy, Infantino confirmed that FIFA would "analyse what it would do in future tournaments 'based on this experience'." This indicates that while the breaks are a firm feature of the current tournament, their long-term inclusion is not set in stone and will depend on a post-tournament review of their impact on players, coaches, broadcasters, and supporters.

The debate over hydration breaks highlights the ongoing tension between player safety, commercial interests, and the traditional flow of the beautiful game, with FIFA now tasked with finding a balance that satisfies all stakeholders as the tournament progresses.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 24, 2026 01:08 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).