FIFA President Gianni Infantino has provided an explanation of the considerations that led to the decision to introduce hydration breaks at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in an interview with FOX Sports presenter Jenny Taft.

According to GoogleNewsEN, Infantino outlined the reasoning behind the measure during the interview, addressing the factors that informed FIFA’s decision to incorporate scheduled hydration breaks into match proceedings at the upcoming tournament.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup is set to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico, with a significant number of matches scheduled to take place in cities where elevated temperatures and high humidity levels are anticipated. The hydration breaks are intended to allow players adequate opportunity to rehydrate during matches, thereby reducing potential health risks associated with heat exposure.

According to GoogleNewsEN, Infantino indicated that the health and physical well-being of participating athletes constituted a primary consideration in the decision-making process surrounding the introduction of this measure.

Further specific details regarding the precise conditions or thresholds under which hydration breaks will be applied were not elaborated upon in the available source material.

A FIFA spokesperson could not be reached for comment.