World Cup Hydration Breaks Not Revenue-Driven, Says Infantino

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has said the hydration breaks introduced at the 2026 FIFA World Cup were not designed to generate revenue, stressing that the measure was implemented solely to protect players and ensure fair competition.

According to a post by FIFA Media on its official X page, Infantino stated that FIFA gains “absolutely nothing” financially from the breaks, which have been introduced for the first time at every World Cup match.

“There is no additional revenue for FIFA, as all commercial agreements were signed well in advance. So, this is not a financial issue for us. For us, it is purely a sporting matter,” he said.

The hydration breaks take place in the 22nd and 67th minutes of every match and last three minutes, with the time added to stoppage time at the end of each half.

Infantino explained that the decision was largely influenced by the high temperatures expected during the tournament and the demanding schedule faced by participating teams.

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“The main reason is the heat, but we also have to understand that in a competition like the World Cup, played over 39 days, with teams potentially playing eight matches in those 39 days, having a moment to rest is extremely important,” he said.

He added that FIFA wanted all teams to compete under identical conditions throughout the tournament, regardless of varying weather conditions across different host venues.

“What matters even more to us is ensuring that all teams, in every match, are playing under the same conditions. We want to ensure equal conditions for everyone, and that’s why these breaks are implemented in every match,” Infantino stated.