Reusable water bottles brought by supporters will not be in the stadiums of the World Cup which begins on June 11, Fifa said on Wednesday, citing a security measure which will however force fans to buy water in the enclosure.
The “code of conduct in stadiums” established by the international body specifies in point 3.1.11 that “for the avoidance of doubt, reusable water bottles are not authorized within the stadium enclosure”. This ban, revealed by The Athletic magazine, has been in effect since Tuesday while empty plastic bottles, which could be filled in water fountains, were authorized until then.
Questioned by AFP, Fifa indicated that it had “taken the decision to ban bottles in order to prevent risks and injuries to players and spectators”.
“Bottles from outside are already prohibited in several of these enclosures for security reasons, and Fifa applies this measure to all tournament stadiums,” explained a spokesperson.
The World Cup co-hosted by the United States, Mexico and Canada runs until July 19 and several of the 16 stadiums are located in areas of extreme summer heat, made worse by stifling humidity. While some enclosures are closed and air-conditioned, most are open-air.
In a recent report, climatologists indicated that “testing heat” could affect a quarter of the 2026 World Cup matches, including the final in New Jersey.
At last year’s Club World Cup, many matches took place in temperatures above 32°C, with humidity making the heat even more difficult to bear.
To combat the heat on the pitch, Fifa imposed a cooling break in the middle of each half, and air-conditioned benches for team management.
“Fifa works closely with each host city organizing committee and local authorities on heat mitigation devices for supporters going to the stadium (including) misters, fans, hydration points, cooling tents and other facilities around the perimeter of the stadium,” added the spokesperson for the body.
Fifa also emphasizes that “within the perimeter of the stadium, the price of bottled water will remain consistent with that of other events organized in each stadium.”
