FIFA President Defends Hydration Breaks at World Cup Amid Mounting Criticism

Mandatory three-minute breaks introduced at the 22nd and 67th minutes of each match have drawn considerable backlash from players, coaches, and supporters since the tournament's opening round.

The hydration pauses were designed to help athletes manage the intense heat across North American venues. However, the breaks have simultaneously created additional advertising opportunities for broadcasters, fueling controversy over whether commercial interests are influencing the competition's structure.

Viewer complaints about increased commercials during these pauses have intensified the debate surrounding the initiative's broader impact on the sport.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino addressed the controversy in a statement released Wednesday, asserting that "there is no additional revenue for FIFA, as all commercial agreements were signed well in advance. Therefore, this is not a financial issue for us, but rather a purely mathematical matter."

The breaks enable coaching staff to communicate tactical adjustments to players mid-match—a practice many critics argue disrupts the natural flow of play and fundamentally alters football's character.

England manager Thomas Tuchel characterized the hydration break as something that "disrupts the rhythm of the match and changes the identity of the game." Uruguay coach Marcelo Bielsa similarly contended that breaking matches into shorter intervals undermines football's essential nature.

Some coaches expressed conditional support for the measure. Spain's Luis de la Fuente and Netherlands captain Virgil van Dijk acknowledged the rule's value in extremely hot climates but questioned its necessity in cooler conditions or climate-controlled stadiums.

Infantino emphasized that heat remains the primary justification for the breaks. He noted that with tournaments spanning 39 days and some teams potentially playing eight matches during that window, rest periods are vital for player welfare.

"What matters most to us is ensuring that all teams play, in every match, under the same conditions," the FIFA President stated.

Infantino further maintained that the hydration breaks have not compromised match tempo, noting that players have sustained strong performance levels throughout competitions.