Infantino defends World Cup hydration breaks and suggests permanence
sportsJun 24, 202625231
FIFA president Gianni Infantino defended the World Cup hydration breaks as measures to protect players from heat and said he may make them permanent at future tournaments. During this World Cup broadcasters ran advertisements in the pauses, drawing criticism that the intervals served commercial interests rather than purely medical needs. Infantino denied FIFA financially benefits from the breaks and pointed to weather- and safety-driven precedents for temporary pauses in past tournaments. Making the breaks permanent would formalize midgame stoppages, changing match momentum and creating predictable advertising windows that could alter broadcasters' coverage and team tactics.
