FIFA has performed a dramatic U-turn by announcing that fans will be permitted to bring a sealed water bottle into World Cup 2026 matches, following fury over its controversial ban.
The governing body confirmed that supporters attending games in the United States and Canada will be allowed to carry one soft, plastic, factory-sealed disposable water bottle into stadiums – a significant climbdown after days of public outrage.
FIFA World Cup 2026 Chief Operating Officer Heimo Schirgi confirmed the updated policy, though stressed that hard-sided, reusable water bottles will still be prohibited on safety and security grounds.
The reversal comes just days after FIFA sparked fury by quietly updating its stadium code of conduct to ban reusable water bottles entirely – a last-minute switch that left fans incensed given the sweltering conditions expected throughout the tournament.
Experts have predicted that 93 percent of matches will be played in temperatures exceeding 28°C (82.4°F).
The initial ban had prompted an outpouring of anger on social media, with supporters branding the move ‘a disgrace’ and raising fears over the safety of fans attending games in summer heat across American host cities.
FIFA has performed a dramatic U-turn by announcing that fans will be permitted to bring a sealed water bottle into World Cup 2026 matches
FIFA’s initial decision had left fans furious, with a number of them expressing anger online
Just three weeks ago FIFA’s official Stadium Code of Conduct included a clause which said: ‘For the avoidance of doubt, empty, transparent, reusable plastic bottles, up to (1 liter in) capacity, may be brought into the Stadium.’
Yet on June 2, the code of conduct was reportedly updated to instead read: ‘For the avoidance of doubt, reusable water bottles may not be brought into the stadium.’
The bottle ban had left soccer fans furious given the extreme weather forecasts, with several of them taking to social media to hit out at FIFA.
‘This is absolutely shocking. FIFA have become a dystopian parody of what they are meant to be,’ one user wrote on X.
Another posted: ‘That’s a disgrace. Basic human right removed and now fans made to spend more $$. Like they’re not already going to be spending enough. Greedy.’
While one predicted: ‘Those drinks are going to be absolutely shocking in price. Water will be $10 at least. The scandal just keeps getting bigger.’
At last summer’s Club World Cup in the US, FIFA charged between $4 and $6 for bottled water amid similar concerns over sweltering temperatures.
It is currently unclear how much the organization will be charging at this summer’s World Cup, with water brand Dasani expected to be sold in the venues.
