The FIFA president rejected the criticism of interruptions during matches, denied that they respond to commercial interests, and highlighted the high attendance at stadiums during the World Cup
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Amid the criticism generated by the mandatory hydration breaks at the 2026 World Cup, Gianni Infantino came out to support the measure and stated that it was implemented solely for sports and health reasons. The FIFA president explained that the interruptions, criticized for disrupting the flow of the game and allowing tactical adjustments during matches, are a response to the high temperatures recorded in several venues and considered that they represent an important tool to protect players in a competition of maximum physical demand.
"The reason for these breaks is clearly the heat", he explained in an interview with the EFE agency. "In a World Cup where you play eight matches in 39 days, having a moment to rest a little is very important", he added.
Gianni Infantino defended the rehydration breaks
The official argued that FIFA decided to apply the measure uniformly to avoid differences between teams. "It is very difficult to accept that a coach has the opportunity to influence a match by correcting something because it is hot, and in another where it is a little less hot, they do not have the same opportunity. That is why there are these breaks in all matches", he pointed out.
He also rejected claims linking the interruptions to economic or television interests. "FIFA gains absolutely nothing from this. All contracts were already signed beforehand, so it is not an economic issue; for us, it is purely a sports matter", he stated.
Although he acknowledged that the breaks could impact the development of matches, he avoided drawing definitive conclusions about their effects. "Could it have an impact on the result? I don't know, maybe, possibly. Is it something bad or something good? I don't know, we will analyze everything", he maintained.
The World Cup, a total success for FIFA
Beyond this controversy, Infantino expressed great satisfaction with the overall development of the World Cup. He indicated that attendance at the stadiums reached record numbers, making the tournament a resounding success. "So far, it is a total success. This World Cup is already the most successful", he assured. Additionally, he highlighted that the stadiums have a occupancy rate close to 99.6% and emphasized the presence of families and young people in the stands.
Infantino highlighted the attendance at the matches and assured that this World Cup is the most successful in history
When asked about the criticisms related to the high ticket prices, he responded that the massive attendance is the best proof of acceptance by the public. He also recalled that in the United States, ticket resale is legal, which influences the final prices paid by many spectators.
Finally, he defended FIFA's economic model by stating that the revenues generated by the World Cup are reinvested in the global development of football. As an example, he mentioned the growth of emerging teams that have qualified for a World Cup for the first time and compete on equal terms with historical powers.
