FIFA president Infantino: FIFA gets not a cent from drinking breaks

FIFA president Gianni Infantino confirmed to journalists in New York that the mandatory drinking breaks at the World Cup were introduced for heat and player health reasons, not for profit. However, critics point out that advertising revenue through broadcast rights ultimately flows back to FIFA indirectly.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup drinking breaks have caused widespread discontent among players, coaches, and fans alike. Gianni Infantino responded to criticism at a meeting with journalists in New York, confirming that FIFA does not profit from the breaks.

Infantino defends the drinking break idea

According to Infantino, the main reason is the high temperature at the tournament taking place in the US, where teams will potentially play up to eight matches in 39 days. "The main reason is the heat, but we must understand that for a competition like this year's World Cup, where teams will potentially play eight matches in 39 days, it is extraordinarily important that players have the opportunity to rest a bit during the match," he explained.

The FIFA boss added that the breaks do not generate additional revenue for the organization, as all commercial contracts were concluded before the tournament. "This is not a financial matter for us," Infantino said.

The numbers tell a different story

However, the situation is somewhat more complex. American broadcaster Fox earns over 250 million dollars, or more than 215 million euros, from advertisements shown during drinking breaks, not counting commercials shown before and after matches. Since Fox paid FIFA 485 million dollars (418 million euros) for broadcast rights, the channel is able to recoup more than half of that sum thanks to the drinking breaks. This means that while FIFA does not directly earn a cent from the breaks, the broadcast rights fee was structured in such a way that advertising breaks are an integral part of the business model.