FIFA Bans Fans from Bringing Water Bottles to World Cup Matches

FIFA has implemented a significant change to its policy regarding the entry of water bottles into World Cup matches this summer. Fans will no longer be permitted to bring their own bottles into the stadiums across North America, as reported by The Athletic's Adam Crafton and Matt Slater.

Initially, the governing body had planned to allow attendees to carry “empty, transparent, reusable plastic bottles” with a maximum capacity of one liter. However, FIFA has revised its guidelines, stating, “For the avoidance of doubt, reusable water bottles may not be brought into the stadium.” This update also prohibits fans from refilling any empty containers at water fountains or dispensers within the stadium.

The pricing for water at the venues remains unclear, and it is expected to differ slightly by location in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. During last summer's Club World Cup, bottled water was priced between $4 and $6, and fans were allowed to bring their own bottles at that time.

FIFA explained that this policy change aims to "prevent risk and injury to players and attendees." They noted that outside bottles are already prohibited at many of the venues for safety reasons, and this new restriction is being uniformly applied across all tournament stadiums. FIFA is also collaborating with Host City Committees and local authorities to implement measures for heat relief, including misting stations and cooling areas.

As the tournament approaches, concerns about extreme heat are prominent, with predictions indicating that 26 out of 104 matches could be played when temperatures exceed 26 degrees Celsius. The World Weather Attribution group has highlighted that at least five matches may see temperatures surpass 28 degrees Celsius, raising the risk of heat-related illnesses for both players and fans.

The World Cup is scheduled to commence on June 11 in Mexico City with a match featuring Mexico versus South Africa. Accuweather forecasts temperatures could reach as high as 84 degrees Fahrenheit on that day.