Fifa weighs up keeping hydration breaks for future World Cups despite fan backlash

Fifa will consider making hydration breaks a permanent fixture in future World Cups , despite significant backlash and criticism during this year's tournament. Gianni Infantino, the football body's president, has defended the decision to introduce the stoppages , which occur midway through each half, suggesting they may enhance fan entertainment. Infantino indicated that Fifa would analyse what it will do in future tournaments “based on this experience”. However, he pushed back against accusations that the breaks were a covert method to insert advertising or American-style timeouts, instead suggesting their impact has been positive. "Maybe the coach can reassess certain situations, correct certain mistakes. The players get a little rest and come back in full speed. Well, is that bad necessarily? Maybe it’s good," Infantino stated. Gianni Infantino has defended the introduction of hydration breaks for every World Cup match (Reuters) "And we see as well the intensity of the games. We’ve never seen 90 minutes in a tournament like this played in such an intensity. Until the last second of the match, players attack and so on. “And maybe, maybe not, but maybe it’s also a bit thanks to this little break that the players have and after they can go back on the field and show what they can do." Despite the tournament delivering high entertainment value, with record goal tallies and standout performances from stars like Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé, and Erling Haaland, the introduction of universal hydration breaks has drawn considerable ire. Loud jeers have frequently met the stoppages, typically around the 22-minute mark of each half, particularly in stadiums equipped with roofs and air conditioning, such as Atlanta. Infantino justified the universal application of the breaks on grounds of sporting equity. "If we were to use hydration breaks only in those matches where it was too hot and not in the other matches, we would give an advantage or a disadvantage to some of the coaches or some of the teams," he explained. "Why would the coach have the opportunity to influence the game in one match just because it’s hot and in another match where it’s a bit less hot, he wouldn’t have this opportunity?" He also dismissed claims that Fifa was generating additional revenue from broadcasters cutting to commercials during these breaks, asserting that all advertising contracts had been finalised before the decision to implement hydration breaks.