Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has criticised FIFA’s decision to stop fans bringing refillable water bottles into World Cup stadiums, claiming it is ‘wrong’ and ‘about making money’.
FIFA’s code of conduct for ticket holders had previously permitted an empty, transparent, reusable bottle of up to one litre capacity to be brought in, but as first reported by The Athletic, an update to ticket holders on June 2 confirmed reusable bottles were no longer permitted at the tournament, which gets underway on June 11 in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The move has already been criticised by fan groups and scientific experts, who raised concerns about the impact of extreme heat on the welfare of spectators before FIFA’s new water bottle ban.
World football’s governing body claims the ban’s purpose is to ‘prevent risk and injury to players and attendees’.
‘It’s just wrong. And I can’t help but think that it’s about making money,’ the Prime Minister told LBC on Friday. ‘So you can’t bring plastic bottles in but you can buy a bottle of water when you get in the crowd?
Keir Starmer has criticised FIFA’s decision to ban refillable water bottles at the World Cup
‘And then it’ll be expensive. The tickets themselves cost a fortune, far too expensive in my view.
‘So the ticket sales are too high. And this is the wrong policy.’
When asked if he will intervene, Starmer added: ‘I would call on FIFA to just look again at this. Think about it. Think of the fans.
‘They are football fans from all sorts of backgrounds across our country, across the world. They’re already spending a fortune getting there. They’ve got to pay a lot for tickets, too much in my book.
‘Don’t impose further costs on them. So I’d say (to) FIFA, look again.’
FIFA clarified late on Friday night that some disposable, factory sealed bottles are permitted in stadiums at the World Cup, while reusable ones are still prohibited.
In a social media statement on X, the governing body said: ‘All fans will be permitted to bring in one, soft, plastic, 20 ounces (590ml), factory sealed disposable water bottle into any FIFA World Cup 2026 match in the USA and Canada.
‘As FIFA World Cup 2026 Chief Operating Officer, Heimo Schirgi, explains, fans will not be permitted to bring in hard sided, reusable water bottles due to safety and security reasons.
‘We can’t wait to welcome the world to the biggest FIFA World Cup in history!’
