FIFA president Gianni Infantino has dismissed suggestions that mandatory hydration breaks at the 2026 World Cup were introduced for commercial gain, insisting the decision was taken with sporting fairness and player welfare in mind.
The three-minute pauses midway through each half of every match have become a major talking point, with critics questioning why they're used even in matches where the weather is not extreme.
Infantino said the heat remains the central reason behind the policy, but added that FIFA also wanted consistency across matches, citing the expanded World Cup's 39-day schedule and teams potentially playing eight matches.
He stressed that FIFA did not want some teams to benefit from tactical pauses in hot conditions while others did not get the same opportunity in relatively cooler games.
England manager Thomas Tuchel, however, said the breaks have changed the rhythm of football more than he expected, interrupting the natural flow of the match.
