FIFA president Gianni Infantino says the World Cup’s hydration breaks are introduced for sporting reasons rather than commercial interests. He defends the change as part of FIFA’s approach to match management, arguing that the pauses are intended to support football-related considerations. Multiple outlets report that the breaks also create additional time in which coaching staff can deliver tactical instructions during the stoppages. Critics have said this can disrupt match momentum and changes the nature of play. Separately, some viewers have complained that the three-minute stoppages expose them to advertising content, raising concerns that the breaks serve commercial objectives. Infantino’s remarks directly address these criticisms, with FIFA presenting the breaks as a sporting mechanism. The debate centers on whether the added stoppage time for hydration and coaching instruction improves the match experience or whether it shifts the emphasis toward commercial messaging during broadcasts.