Fifa Bans Reusable Bottles at 2026 World Cup for Safety

Fans heading to the 2026 World Cup will have to leave their reusable water bottles at the turnstiles after Fifa introduced a late change to its stadium code of conduct, citing safety concerns.

The governing body had previously allowed supporters to bring in empty, transparent, reusable plastic bottles. That window has now closed. The updated rules block those containers outright, grouping them with bottles, cups, jars and cans on a list of prohibited items designed to remove anything that could be thrown and cause injury.

“Fifa is committed to protecting the health and safety of all players, referees, fans, volunteers, and staff,” the organisation said, explaining the move. It added that the decision to prohibit bottles was taken “to prevent risk and injury to players and attendees”, noting that several of the venues already operate similar restrictions for other events.

The timing of the change has triggered unease among supporters, not over security, but over heat. Some host cities for the 48‑team tournament, staged across the US, Canada and Mexico, are expected to see temperatures nudging between 26C and 28C on matchdays. With personal bottles off limits, fans have turned their attention to how easily – and how affordably – they will be able to stay hydrated inside the grounds.

Fifa insists it has prepared for that challenge. It says it is working with host city committees and local authorities on “heat mitigation” for travelling fans, outlining a package that can include misting stations, fans, hydration points and cooling tents around each stadium footprint.

Inside the perimeter, the onus will fall on venue catering. Fifa has said the price of water bottles at World Cup matches in 2026 will be kept in line with what supporters normally pay at the same stadiums for other events, a key detail in a country such as the US where drink prices at major sports venues can quickly climb.

The World Cup, expanded to 48 teams and spread across three nations, runs from 11 June to 19 July. With the football set to stretch over five weeks and across multiple climates, how stadiums balance safety with basic comfort may become one of the defining off-pitch storylines of the tournament.