FIFA President Gianni Infantino has defended the introduction of mandatory hydration breaks at every match of the 2026 World Cup, saying the measure is designed to protect players and ensure fair conditions throughout the tournament.
The breaks, which are being used for the first time in World Cup history, have attracted criticism since their introduction. However, FIFA has insisted the policy is necessary because of the challenging conditions expected during the competition.
Under the new system, matches are paused in the 22nd and 67th minutes for three-minute hydration breaks. Any time lost during those interruptions is added to stoppage time at the end of each half.
Infantino said the decision was primarily motivated by concerns over the high temperatures anticipated in several host cities. He added that the demanding nature of the tournament schedule also played a significant role in FIFA’s thinking.
Teams involved in the competition could potentially play as many as eight matches within a period of 39 days, placing considerable physical demands on players. According to the FIFA president, providing opportunities for recovery during matches is therefore an important aspect of safeguarding player welfare.
“The main reason is the heat, but we also have to understand that in a competition like the World Cup, having a moment to recover is extremely important,” he explained.
The introduction of hydration breaks marks a significant change for the World Cup and reflects FIFA’s efforts to address concerns surrounding player health during a lengthy and demanding tournament.
Infantino also argued that the policy is intended to promote fairness across the competition. He said applying the rule uniformly to every match would ensure that all teams operate under the same conditions, regardless of local weather variations.
According to the FIFA president, without a standard approach, teams playing in extreme temperatures could benefit from opportunities to pause and regroup that might not be available in games held under cooler conditions.
“We want to guarantee equal conditions for everyone, and that’s why these breaks are implemented in every match,” Infantino stated.
His comments come amid debate over whether the interruptions could affect the flow of games or provide teams with additional tactical opportunities during matches.
Infantino rejected suggestions that commercial considerations had influenced FIFA’s decision. He stressed that the governing body would not receive any additional income as a result of the breaks and said all relevant commercial arrangements had already been agreed before the start of the tournament.
The FIFA president was clear that financial gain had played no role in the implementation of the policy.
“For us, this is absolutely not a financial matter. It’s purely a sporting issue,” he concluded.
FIFA’s decision means every match at the 2026 World Cup will feature the scheduled hydration pauses, making the tournament the first in the competition’s history to adopt such a system universally.
While the measure has generated criticism in some quarters, FIFA maintains that the breaks are necessary to protect players from heat-related challenges, support recovery during a congested schedule and ensure that every team competes under the same regulations throughout the tournament.
