Finger: Participation of 48 national teams... 'successful'

Arsène Wenger, the FIFA Director of Global Football Development, acknowledged that the water break intervals implemented during the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America did not receive universal approval, confirming that FIFA will assess the future of their application after the tournament concludes.

Speaking at a press conference, Wenger said, “At times, people were not pleased with them, and we must analyze their impact after the World Cup.”

FIFA adopted two three-minute breaks at the midpoint of each half during the current edition of the tournament, regardless of weather conditions, even in matches played in mild climates or in stadiums with closed roofs.

The international governing body clarified that the objective of this measure is to safeguard players’ health, while critics argued it also provides an opportunity to generate additional revenue through the sale of advertising space during the breaks.

Wenger added, “It does not appear to have affected match results, but we are here to serve the fans who watch football, and we will draw our conclusions after the World Cup ends.”

He continued, “In many matches, particularly in covered stadiums, people were not satisfied with these breaks, but it was decided from the start of the tournament to apply them to all matches.”

Earlier in the tournament, Spanish national team coach Luis de la Fuente had defended the water breaks, considering them essential to protect players amid high temperatures.

He said, “It is difficult to maintain this level of physical exertion for extended periods, and I believe these breaks give players a short opportunity to catch their breath and continue competing at their best.”

In a separate matter, the former Arsenal manager Wenger emphasized that expanding the World Cup from 32 to 48 teams has proven successful, despite the controversy preceding the tournament’s launch.

He stated, “The decision was met with skepticism before the tournament began, but we saw that it was ethically necessary to give more national teams an opportunity. I am convinced it was the right decision and achieved great success.”