One of the biggest and most criticized innovations of the 2026 World Cup, which is breaking several attendance and financial records, has been the mandatory hydration breaks during both halves of the matches.
English edition of prominent Spanish daily Mundo Deportivo writes that there has been much discussion since the start of the tournament about this situation, which, while common in American sports, is atypical for the rest of the world.
These breaks, in true American style, the paper noted, are becoming a real party inside the stadium and a lucrative business for television.
It added that several studies have already revealed that advertising revenue from commercials during the three-minute frenzy will reach unprecedented levels. And one player is taking a big slice of this pie.
Beckham, Star Of The Hydration Breaks
David Beckham, owner of Inter Miami, where unprecedented eight Ballon d’Ors holder, Lionel Messi, plays, and recently declared a billionaire by the Sunday Times Rich List 2026, is one of those who is profiting the most financially from this new landscape in the world of football, earning an absolute fortune for his participation in different advertisements for major brands.
Scandalous Figures
The paper quotes the Daily Mail as having contacted Professor Patrick Rishe, Director of Sports Business at the University of Washington, to analyze the situation.
He was clear: “He’s (Beckham) earning around $25 million (€22 million) from these World Cup ads alone. It’s a testament to his global fame, his commercial appeal, and the universality of his popularity.”
“He is one of the few international sports stars who can attract such a diverse range of brands. He is a global marketing icon. He is instantly recognizable, a gentleman, and a person of integrity,” the professor added.
“It’s (hydration breaks) purely a sporting matter, not a financial one. The main reason is the heat, but we also have to understand that in a competition like the World Cup, which is played over 39 days, with teams potentially playing eight matches, having a moment to rest is extremely important,” explained FIFA President Gianni Infantino, justifying the hydration breaks.
He added: “There is no additional revenue for FIFA, as all commercial agreements were signed well in advance”
He also linked it to a purely sporting issue: “What matters even more to us is ensuring that all teams, in every match, play under the same conditions.”
*PHOTO CAPTION: Beckham poses for a photograph with some of his luxury cars.
