The International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) changed its policy at the last minute and will not allow fans to bring private water bottles to the upcoming World Cup matches in the US, Canada and Mexico.
Previously, FIFA's plan allowed fans to bring "transparent, reusable plastic bottles, with a maximum capacity of one liter" into stadiums. But according to the latest update from FIFA, they have decided to ban bringing reusable water bottles into stadiums at the 2026 World Cup.
It is not yet clear how much FIFA plans to charge for drinking water at upcoming competition venues, although the price may differ slightly in the US, Canada and Mexico. At the Club World Cup in the summer of 2025, water costs from 4 to 6 USD, although fans are allowed to bring water bottles to competition venues.
FIFA said this change was made to "prevent risks and injuries for players".
Bringing water bottles from outside has been banned at some locations for safety reasons, and FIFA is applying this regulation to all stadiums participating in the tournament," FIFA said.
FIFA also said that misting stations, fans, drinking water supply stations and cooling tents will be located in the "stadium area". In addition, bottled water inside the World Cup venue will be sold at a price "equivalent to other events held at each stadium".
Although water will still be sold, hot weather will certainly be a big problem at the upcoming FIFA World Cup.
A report published by the World Weather Attribution research group last month estimated that 26 out of 104 matches at the World Cup are likely to take place in hot and humid conditions, with the WBGT index exceeding 26 degrees Celsius.
WBGT is an index that measures the level of stress caused by heat to the human body, combining temperature, humidity, wind and sunlight.
The World Cup is expected to start in the early morning of June 12 (Vietnam time) in Mexico City with the match between Mexico and South Africa. More than a week before this match took place, the temperature measured in Mexico City sometimes reached 39 degrees Celsius.
