FIFA Imposes Water Bottle Ban at World Cup Venues Amid Safety Concerns

In a surprising last-minute decision, FIFA has prohibited fans from bringing refillable water bottles into stadiums for the upcoming World Cup 2026, compelling supporters to purchase bottled water instead, as reported by The Athletic. Just last month, FIFA's stadium code of conduct allowed empty, transparent, reusable plastic bottles with a capacity of up to one liter, but this guideline has now been revised.

The updated code specifies, "For the avoidance of doubt, reusable water bottles may not be brought into the stadium," signaling a clear shift in policy. A FIFA spokesperson explained the rationale behind this change, citing safety as a primary concern. The organization noted that several venues were already enforcing a ban on refillable bottles for similar reasons.

In a statement to AFP, FIFA emphasized its commitment to ensuring the well-being of everyone involved in the tournament, stating, "FIFA made the decision to prohibit bottles to prevent risk and injury to players and attendees." While outside bottles are banned at various venues for safety, FIFA is now extending this rule across all tournament locations.

Fans will still have access to misting stations, cooling tents, and hydration stations within the stadium. Additionally, bottled water will be available for purchase inside the venues, with pricing aligned with that of other events held at the respective stadiums.

This policy comes despite warnings from experts about potential health issues due to extreme heat at open-air venues during the World Cup, which will be jointly hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. A report from the World Weather Attribution research group indicated that 26 out of 104 matches may occur in conditions where the Wet Bulb Global Temperature exceeds 26 degrees, a crucial indicator of heat stress on the human body.

Last year, fans attending the FIFA Club World Cup in the U.S. also faced similar restrictions on bringing water bottles, amid complaints about intense heat conditions.