FIFA will consider keeping hydration breaks for future World Cups despite backlash to the extra stoppages in play at this year's tournament.

Gianni Infantino, the football body's president, defended the decision to introduce breaks — which come midway through each half — at this World Cup and said yesterday they may be providing more entertainment for fans.

He said FIFA would analyse what it would do in future tournaments "based on this experience." But after criticism that the breaks were a stealth way to insert advertising or American-style timeouts, Infantino suggested the stoppages have been positive.