Published On 6/5/2026
The decision of the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) to prevent fans from bringing reusable water bottles into the stadiums of the 2026 World Cup, scheduled to be held in the United States, Canada and Mexico, sparked a widespread wave of controversy and criticism.
According to the American newspaper “The Athletic”, tournament ticket holders received emails containing the updated rules, which stipulate that reusable water bottles are no longer allowed to be brought into the stadiums, for safety reasons and preventing potential risks or injuries to players and fans.
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The decision sparked dissatisfaction with many fan associations, as the England Fans Association issued a statement criticizing the move, saying: “What next? Will sunscreen also be banned and fans forced to buy it inside the stadium? After all this talk about the importance of hydration and water drinking periods for players, this decision seems very strange. We were previously assured that fans will be able to bring their own bottles, and therefore many feel that this is nothing more than a new way to make additional profits.”
For its part, the Scottish Fans Association expressed “extreme disappointment” about the decision, stressing that the fans had received repeated reassurances over the past months that providing water and maintaining the safety of fans in hot weather was a top priority.
She added that the decision contradicts those promises, and may expose thousands of fans to the risk of dehydration, calling on FIFA to reconsider it.
The Football Fans Association also criticized the decision through its official spokesman, stressing that the safety of fans should be a priority for FIFA, not increasing water sales inside stadiums at high prices.
The spokesman considered, in statements reported by The Athletic newspaper, that banning reusable bottles is an unnecessary step that may put fans in difficult health situations.
On the other hand, a number of activists and fans expressed on social media platforms their concerns about the impact of the decision, especially since many of the cities hosting the World Cup are experiencing high temperatures during the summer, which increases the importance of providing easy and safe means of obtaining water.
The controversy comes at a time when the United States, Canada and Mexico are preparing to host the first edition of the World Cup with the participation of 48 teams, amid expectations of record crowd attendance in stadiums and host cities during the summer of 2026.
