The integrity of football is at risk with FIFA's introduction of hydration breaks, which double as advertising opportunities. Players and coaches express concerns that these breaks may dilute the game's intensity, particularly amid rising broadcast expenses.

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FIFA put into effect a player-welfare measure. Fox turned it into a half-billion-dollar windfall. The smarter advertising bet is the one Telemundo is quietly making instead.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has defended the new three-minute hydration breaks at the World Cup 2026, emphasizing their purely sporting purpose to combat extreme heat and…