FIFA has reversed a stadium policy that, as recently as three weeks ago, explicitly permitted fans to bring empty reusable plastic bottles into World Cup venues in North America, The Athletic reported.
The original Stadium Code of Conduct, published in May, stated: “For the avoidance of doubt, empty, transparent, reusable plastic bottles, up to (1 liter in) capacity, may be brought into the Stadium.” That language was removed on June 2. The updated code now reads: “For the avoidance of doubt, reusable water bottles may not be brought into the stadium.” All other bottle types remain banned on safety grounds, due to the risk of injury if thrown.
In a statement issued to The Athletic, FIFA said the decision was made to “prohibit bottles to prevent risk and injury to players and attendees,” adding that the policy is consistent with existing rules at several host venues. The governing body did not explain what had changed in the three weeks since the previous guidance was published.
The timing has drawn sharp criticism, given documented concerns about heat at the tournament. A 52-page report published in May by World Weather Attribution scientists found that approximately 26 of the 104 scheduled matches are likely to be played when the host city’s Wet Bulb Global Temperature exceeds 26 degrees Celsius, with five games likely to exceed 28 degrees Celsius. Several host venues, including those near Kansas City, Boston, Miami, Philadelphia, San Francisco, and New York/New Jersey, have no roof.
The practical consequence of the ban is that fans can no longer refill an empty bottle at stadium water stations. At the Club World Cup last summer, FIFA venues charged between $4 and $6 for bottled water. FIFA’s long-standing sponsor Coca-Cola, whose Dasani water brand will be sold inside World Cup stadiums, stands to benefit from the change.
Fan groups were direct in their response. The Football Supporters’ Association said: “Yet again with this World Cup, it is fans last and not fans first. The heat and humidity is a real concern for fans’ welfare, it should be this that is FIFA’s main focus and not the ability to sell more bottled water at inflated prices.”
Football Supporters Europe executive director Ronan Evain drew a pointed contrast with FIFA’s approach to player welfare. “They are saying water is essential to the players’ safety. But for the fans, they are saying water is not essential, it is a commodity. The health risks are obvious and this is another example of the sense of chaos and confusion we are getting from FIFA on a number of fan-related issues.”
Toronto City Councillor Josh Matlow called access to water “a right no matter where you are in Toronto,” and said he would ask city hall to push back on what he described as a “greedy and unreasonable FIFA demand.”
Dr Theodore Keeping, a scientist from World Weather Attribution at Imperial College London, said: “Allowing fair and equitable access to hydration is a basic first defence against the extreme heat risks climate change is bringing to this World Cup.”
FIFA noted that it has introduced mandatory three-minute hydration breaks per half for players, and said heat mitigation measures for fans outside venues, including misting stations and cooling tents, are being coordinated with host city committees. Inside stadiums, it said water bottle pricing “will remain consistent with other events held at each stadium.”
