Fifa Bans Reusable Bottles at 2026 World Cup Stadiums

Fans heading to the 2026 World Cup will not be allowed to bring reusable water bottles into stadiums after Fifa imposed a late change to its code of conduct, citing safety concerns.

The governing body had previously allowed empty, transparent, reusable plastic bottles to be taken into venues. That exemption has now gone. In the updated rules, bottles of any kind join cups, jars and cans on the list of prohibited items, with Fifa arguing they pose a risk if thrown.

“Fifa is committed to protecting the health and safety of all players, referees, fans, volunteers, and staff,” the organisation said, explaining that the decision to prohibit bottles was taken “to prevent risk and injury to players and attendees”.

It pointed out that some of the stadiums involved in the tournament already block outside bottles on safety grounds and said it was now applying the same standard across all World Cup venues.

The timing and nature of the change have set off alarm bells among supporters’ groups, who are already planning for long days in the sun at a tournament spread across the US, Canada and Mexico. Temperatures at some venues are expected to sit between 26C and 28C, and the ban has sharpened worries about how easily fans will be able to stay hydrated once inside the stadium perimeter.

Fifa insists it has planned for the conditions. The organisation said it is working with host city committees and local authorities on “heat mitigation” for travelling supporters, including measures such as misting stations, fans, hydration stations and cooling tents around each stadium footprint.

Inside the controlled area, Fifa says water bottle prices for the 2026 World Cup will be in line with other events held at the same venues, a key detail in a country like the US where stadium concessions are often expensive and closely scrutinised by fans.

The 48-team World Cup, the biggest in history, will run from 11 June to 19 July across three nations. With the scale of the event growing, the debate over where to draw the line between security and supporter welfare is only getting louder.