Fifa president Gianni Infantino has defended the hydration breaks introduced at the World Cup, stating they represent "purely a sporting matter" and generate no extra income for football's global governing body.

Three-minute pauses have been introduced midway through each half of every World Cup fixture as a measure to help players cope with the intense heat of the tournament being staged across North America. However, the breaks have drawn a mixed response — coaches and players have offered differing opinions, and sections of the crowd at several stadiums have booed when referees signal for the pause.

Equal conditions for all teams

Infantino acknowledged that not every match is played in extreme temperatures — England's draw with Ghana on Tuesday took place in relatively mild conditions, and some venues feature air-conditioned, roofed stadiums. Despite this, he said the breaks are applied universally to guarantee fairness across the competition.

"What matters even more to us is ensuring that all teams, in every match, are playing under the same conditions," Infantino said. "It's very difficult to accept that a coach might have the opportunity to influence a match by making adjustments simply because it is hotter, while in another match, where the temperature is slightly lower, the same coach does not have the same opportunity."

Managers and their coaching staff are permitted to use the breaks to discuss tactics with their players — adding a strategic dimension beyond simple rest and rehydration.

Infantino also stressed the cumulative physical toll of the tournament format: "In a competition like the World Cup, played over 39 days, with teams potentially playing eight matches in those 39 days, having a moment to rest is extremely important."

Advertising revenue — for broadcasters, not Fifa

Television broadcasters in several countries have aired commercials during the breaks, though UK broadcasters have not followed suit. Infantino was firm that Fifa does not benefit financially from this arrangement: "There is no additional revenue for Fifa, as all commercial agreements were signed well in advance. This is not a financial issue for us."

Experts who spoke to BBC Sport estimate that a 30-second advertising slot on Fox Sports during the World Cup costs between $200,000 (£152,000) and $300,000 (£227,000) on average, climbing to as much as $750,000 (£567,000) during USA matches and the latter stages of the tournament. Projections suggest advertising aired during hydration breaks could generate more than $250 million (£189 million) in the United States alone — revenue that flows to broadcasters rather than Fifa.