FIFA is weighing whether to keep the short water breaks that have punctuated recent World Cup matches, a move that could reshape how players manage heat during the tournament.
Infantino's Defense
President Gianni Infantino has come out in support of the pauses, saying they add to the spectacle and give athletes a chance to recover, while emphasizing that they do not translate into extra commercial gain.
The competition has been marked by an unprecedented number of goals, with luminaries such as Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland delivering performances that have captivated audiences worldwide.
Yet the breaks have drawn criticism, particularly in venues where temperatures are lower than expected, raising questions about their necessity and impact on the flow of play.
Infantino insists that the intervals are essential for sporting equity, ensuring that no team gains an unfair advantage through physical conditioning, and he has reiterated that FIFA is not profiting from them.
As the governing body ponders the future of these pauses, the debate reflects a broader tension between player welfare, competitive balance and the evolving entertainment value of the world’s premier football event.