Fifa Bans Reusable Bottles at 2026 World Cup

Fans heading to the 2026 World Cup will not be allowed to bring reusable water bottles into stadiums after a late change to Fifa’s code of conduct, a move that has immediately sparked concern among supporters.

The governing body had previously allowed empty, transparent, reusable plastic bottles to be taken into venues. That exemption has now gone. In the updated regulations, all outside bottles are banned, along with cups, jars and cans, to reduce the risk of objects being thrown and causing injury.

“Fifa is committed to protecting the health and safety of all players, referees, fans, volunteers, and staff,” the organisation said. It added that the decision to prohibit bottles was taken “to prevent risk and injury to players and attendees”, noting that several host venues already operate similar restrictions on non-tournament event days.

The timing of the change has hit a nerve. Supporters’ groups are already asking how fans will cope in the heat, particularly at venues where temperatures are expected to sit between 26C and 28C during matches. With a 48‑team tournament stretched across the US, Canada and Mexico from 11 June to 19 July, large sections of the schedule will fall in warm, often humid conditions.

Access to drinking water inside stadiums has quickly become the central issue. Fans worry about both availability and cost if they cannot refill their own bottles.

Fifa insists it has planned for the conditions. It says it is working “closely with each host city committee and local authorities on heat mitigation factors for fans travelling to the stadium”, pointing to measures such as misting stations, fans, hydration stations and cooling tents around each venue’s footprint.

Inside the perimeter, Fifa has promised that the price of water bottles “will remain consistent with other events held at each stadium”, leaving local benchmarks to dictate what supporters will pay.

The World Cup’s expanded format and vast geography were always going to test logistics. Now, before a ball has been kicked, the basic question of how fans stay hydrated has become one of the first flashpoints of the 2026 tournament.