FIFA has taken a belated U-turn on a policy allowing supporters to bring water bottles into stadiums for this summer’s World Cup finals, calling it a potentially dangerous practice.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino and US President Donald Trump (Image: 2025 FIFA)
Sitting in his plush seat, Gianni Infantino doesn’t pay for his water or whatever drink he chooses.
I was probably sitting next to Donald Trump or some other so-called dignitary, so if the scorching heat passes at all, I’ll probably get my forehead wiped. In the FIFA VIP section, the cost of staying cool and staying hydrated won’t be an issue at the 2026 World Cup.
But for fans who have already refinanced their homes or sold their grandparents, getting into the stadium to cheer on their team is likely to be an expensive proposition.
As first reported by a reporter for The Athletic, less than a month ago, FIFA’s official stadium code of conduct included a clause stating: “For the avoidance of doubt, empty reusable plastic bottles with a capacity of up to 1 liter may be brought into stadiums.”
But now it appears that a U-turn has begun.
This clause has now been updated to read: “For the avoidance of doubt, reusable water bottles may not be brought into the stadium.”
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Seems like it could be a safety issue. Bottles may be thrown. But the big safety issue at the World Cup will be the intense heat.
Temperatures are expected to be around 80 degrees for more than a quarter of the 104 games, with some games expected to be played at temperatures well above that. Players will take a hydration break between each half of the game.
But if FIFA’s shameful and exploitative ban on reusable water bottles continues, fans will be forced to buy water at official stadium shops. And while the price of the water, supplied by FIFA sponsor Coca-Cola, is not yet clear, it typically costs around $6 (£4.50) per bottle inside American sports venues.
A spokesperson for the soccer supporters’ association said, “Even in this World Cup, the fans don’t come first, they come last.
“Heat and humidity are real concerns for fan welfare. This should be FIFA’s main focus, not the ability to sell more bottled water at higher prices.”
All supporters attending the World Cup have been told to take all possible precautions to avoid the effects of dangerous heat.
However, this does not appear to include whether reusable bottles can be brought into the stadium.
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