Fifa's head of global football development, Arsene Wenger, has acknowledged that the three-minute hydration breaks introduced at the 2026 World Cup have not been popular.
The breaks, which were introduced regardless of conditions, were brought in as a commitment to player welfare but have been met with criticism from supporters and teams.
Experts have pointed out that broadcasters have used the breaks as a way to cash in with commercials, with an average 30-second World Cup ad slot on Fox Sports in the US costing between £152,000 and £227,000.
Wenger, a former Arsenal manager, said that Fifa will review the impact of the hydration breaks after the tournament, adding that it 'didn't look to me that it changed the results'.
However, not all teams have been opposed to the breaks, with Spain boss Luis de la Fuente voicing his support for the measure, citing the importance of player health.
In a separate development, Wenger has praised the expansion of the World Cup to feature 48 teams, saying it has been a success and has given more teams a chance to compete.