Fifa won’t allow fans to bring water bottles into stadiums during the World Cup

Fans will now be banned from taking reusable water bottles into World Cup stadiums (Picture: Getty)

Fans will now be banned from taking reusable water bottles into World Cup stadiums after an injury time U-turn by Fifa.

The move, coming just a week before the tournament kicks off on June 11, has been criticised by England fans who hit out at the governing body’s ‘latest money-grab’.

Fifa said it is designed to ‘prevent risk and injury to players and attendees’, despite experts warning that temperatures at 14 of the 16 grounds hosting matches could exceed dangerous levels.

Fans hoping to cool down with a bottle of water while the players take their three-minute hydration break in each half now face handing over nearly £10 for the privilege.

England fans hit out at the move, calling it Fifa’s ‘latest money-grab’ (Picture: Getty Images)

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The code of conduct for ticket holders had previously permitted an empty, transparent, reusable bottle of up to one litre capacity to be brought in.

But as first reported by The Athletic, an update to ticket holders on June 2 confirmed reusable bottles were no longer permitted.

A Fifa spokesperson said: ‘FIFA is committed to protecting the health and safety of all players, referees, fans, volunteers and staff.

‘Fifa made the decision to prohibit bottles to prevent risk and injury to players and attendees.

‘Outside bottles are already prohibited at several of these venues for safety considerations and Fifa is applying this consideration across its tournament stadiums.

Fifa World Cup signage is displayed outside SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, California (Picture: EPA)

England’s Elliot Anderson, Harry Kane, Reece James, Djed Spence and Morgan Rogers training in West Palm Beach, Florida (Picture: The FA via Getty Images)

‘Fifa works closely with each host city committee and local authorities on heat mitigation factors for fans travelling to the stadium, which can include resources such as misting stations, fans, hydration stations, cooling tents and more around the stadium footprint.

‘Inside the stadium footprint, pricing for water bottles for the Fifa World Cup 2026 will remain consistent with other events held at each stadium.’

The Athletic reported that bottled water cost between £3 and £4.50 at last summer’s Club World Cup in the United States.

At the Dallas Stadium, where England will open their World Cup campaign against Croatia on June 17, bottled water is priced at £4.

Prices are similar at the Gillette Stadium, where the Three Lions play their second game against Ghana, and the MetLife stadium where they close out Group L against Panama.

AT&T Stadium will be called ‘Dallas Stadium’ during the 2026 Fifa World Cup (Picture: AFP via Getty)

Rough price guide for England's World Cup opener vs. Croatia on June 17

Match ticket – £200 to £500

Return flights – £1,200 upwards

Hotel accommodation June 15 to 18 – £500 upwards

At Dallas Stadium:

Bottle of water – £4

Bottle of beer – £10

Pepperoni pizza – £9

Hot dog – £5

Reacting to the new policy, the Free Lions England fans’ group posted on X: ‘What next? Sun cream banned and fans forced to buy it in stadiums?

‘For all of the effort they are going to with “drinks breaks” for the players, this is such a strange, late change.

‘In all of our discussions, free water availability in stadiums was a key one and we were assured by Fifa that this would be the case and that fans will have the ability to bring their own water bottle.

‘Naturally, the immediate thought from supporters is this is just the latest money-grab. For how hot the stadiums will be, many in open air, just let fans bring a bottle if they want to.

‘We hope the water fountains in stadiums will still be free, hopefully you aren’t charged in the queue!’

Fans have also complained over the high cost of tickets for this summer’s tournament, which they argue are significantly steeper than at any previous World Cup.

Tickets for ​the final at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey on July 19 start ​at $4,185 (£3,100) – seven times the cost of the cheapest ticket at the 2022 World Cup final in Qatar.

Trionda, the official match ball of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, in Mexico City (Picture: Solrac Santiago/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

Criticism has also been directed at dynamic pricing – where the price increases with demand, and Fifa’s approach to ticket resale, where it takes a cut of sales and purchases on its platform.

Some host venues, New Jersey and Boston in particular, have also faced opposition over transport costs.

The 48-team World Cup, co-hosted by the ⁠US, Canada, ​and Mexico, will run from June 11 ​to July 19.

The tournament will feature 104 matches, up from 64 previously, including an ​additional knockout round.

Concerns around player welfare have prompted Fifa to introduce three-minute water breaks at every game, to be taken close to the midway point in each half.

Last month, academics at World Weather Attribution (WWA) expressed concern about the impact of extreme heat on player and fan welfare, with supporters felt to be especially vulnerable.

Altogether, WWA expects nine of the 104 World Cup matches to be played above 26 degrees Wet Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT).

WBGT is an index that considers how effectively the body can cool itself.

Above 26 degrees, world players’ union FIFPRO advises that safety measures should be implemented, with around five matches expected to occur where the WBGT exceeds 28 degrees, when FIFPRO says matches should be postponed.

WWA study author Dr Theodore Keeping from Imperial College London said in response to Fifa’s change of policy: ‘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.’

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