FIFA President Gianni Infantino has spoken about the hydration breaks introduced at the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Axar.az reports, citing Inside FIFA, hydration breaks, introduced for the first time at a FIFA World Cup, are being implemented in all matches.

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

Infantino said the main reason behind the decision was the heat, while also emphasizing the importance of ensuring equal conditions for all teams.

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

“What matters even more to us is ensuring that all teams, in every match, are playing under the same conditions. And it’s very difficult to accept that a coach might have the opportunity to influence a match by making adjustments simply because it’s hotter, while in another match, where the temperature is slightly lower, the same coach doesn’t have the same opportunity. We want to ensure equal conditions for everyone, and that’s why these breaks are implemented in every match.”

The FIFA president also stressed that the decision was not related to financial interests.

“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,” Infantino said.

It should be noted that the introduction of hydration breaks and the use of advertising elements during the breaks have sparked discussions and criticism among some members of the football community.