NEWS
“FIFA Made the Decision to Prohibit Bottles to Prevent Risk and Injury to Players and Attendees” — Fans Barred From Bringing Refillable Water Bottles Into World Cup Venues
World football governing body, FIFA, has sparked fresh debate ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after introducing a last-minute policy change banning fans from bringing refillable water bottles into tournament stadiums.
The decision, which was revealed in a report by The Athletic on Wednesday, is expected to force thousands of supporters attending matches across the United States, Canada, and Mexico to purchase bottled water inside stadium venues, despite growing concerns over extreme weather conditions expected during the competition.
As recently as last month, FIFA’s official stadium code of conduct had permitted supporters to carry empty refillable bottles into match venues. The guideline previously stated: “For the avoidance of doubt, empty, transparent, reusable plastic bottles, up to (1 litre in) capacity, may be brought into the Stadium.”
However, the updated regulations now carry a stricter directive.
“For the avoidance of doubt, reusable water bottles may not be brought into the stadium,” the revised stadium code of conduct now reads.
The sudden reversal has generated criticism among football fans and health advocates, especially amid warnings that soaring temperatures during the tournament could expose supporters to dehydration and heat-related illnesses.
Responding to the controversy, a FIFA spokesperson defended the decision, insisting the ban was introduced purely for safety reasons and not for commercial purposes.
“FIFA is committed to protecting the health and safety of all players, referees, fans, volunteers, and staff.
“FIFA made the decision to prohibit bottles to prevent risk and injury to players and attendees.
“Outside bottles are already prohibited at several of these venues for safety considerations, and FIFA is applying this consideration across its tournament stadiums,” the statement read.
According to FIFA, several cooling measures would still be made available to fans within stadium environments throughout the competition. The organization stated that misting stations, hydration stations, cooling tents, and fan support facilities would be positioned across “the stadium footprint” to help spectators manage the heat.
The football body further noted that bottled water sold inside the venues would maintain pricing structures similar to those used during other events hosted at the stadiums.
Nevertheless, the policy shift has intensified concerns surrounding player and fan welfare ahead of the expanded 2026 World Cup, which will feature matches played in several open-air stadiums across North America during peak summer conditions.
Heat experts and climate researchers have repeatedly warned about the dangers associated with extreme temperatures expected during the tournament.
A report published last month by the World Weather Attribution research group estimated that 26 out of the tournament’s 104 matches are likely to be played under conditions where the Wet Bulb Global Temperature (WBGT) exceeds 26 degrees, a threshold considered potentially dangerous for prolonged physical exposure.
WBGT is widely recognized as a scientific measurement used to determine heat stress on the human body by combining factors such as temperature, humidity, wind speed, and sunlight intensity.
Concerns over fan comfort are not entirely new. During last year’s FIFA Club World Cup hosted in the United States, supporters had also complained about severe heat conditions inside stadiums, while similar restrictions on bringing personal water bottles into venues were enforced.
With millions of football fans expected to travel across North America for the global football spectacle, FIFA’s latest policy decision is already shaping up to be one of the tournament’s most controversial off-field developments.