FIFA’s flip-flop over ‘Watergate’: Can fans bring bottles to stadiums after all?

Water bottles — FIFA’s kryptonite.

With the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico starting on Thursday, June 11, fans planning to attend games are understandably confused: are they going to be allowed to bring their own water bottles into the stadiums? Or not?

With temperatures rising, concerns expressed over the safety, and fans already frustrated by the price of tickets, parking and transport, the idea that water bottles will be banned at venues has proved controversial.

Fans have now received three different, and contradictory, communications from world soccer’s governing body over the ‘watergate’ issue. So, what’s the latest? And why is it important?

Can fans bring their own water bottles?

Yes. FIFA’s latest guidance reveals that “fans would, in fact, now be allowed to bring in one, soft, plastic 20oz (590ml), factory sealed disposable water bottle” to matches in the United States and Canada.

World Cup 2026 chief operating officer Heimo Schirgi did not mention Mexico, however, in his video announcement on Friday — creating confusion about whether fans attending venues in Mexico City, Monterrey and Guadalajara will be allowed to bring their own bottles or not.

The Athletic has asked FIFA to clarify if Mexico is exempted from the new policy.

How did we get here?

The original guidance, as outlined in FIFA’s public code of conduct for World Cup venues, said that supporters could bring an empty, transparent plastic bottle, up to one liter (34oz) in capacity into venues, enabling them to refill their containers at drinking fountains within stadiums.

That changed on Wednesday night.

The Athletic exclusively reported that FIFA’s policy was updated on June 2, removing the previous plastic bottle guidance. It instead read: “For the avoidance of doubt, reusable water bottles may not be brought into the stadium.”

A source within FIFA with knowledge of the planning said they believed the decision to reverse that policy was highly influenced by commercial considerations.

How much would bottled water cost in stadiums?

FIFA has said in their guidance that prices would “remain consistent with other events held at each stadium”.

This means the price of water bottles at most stadium concession stands is expected to fall within the $4-$6 range. Prices will vary between venue, however, with Atlanta’s stadium the cheapest at $3 each.

What was the reaction to FIFA’s U-turn?

The policy change prompted a wave of public criticism, including from New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani, who said he was “concerned” by the U-turn.

Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said FIFA’s decision is a “pure money grab”.

“They are saying water is essential to the players’ safety,” Football Supporters Europe executive director Ronan Evain said. “But for the fans, they are saying water is not essential; it is a commodity.”

United Kingdom prime minister Keir Starmer also said FIFA’s decision was “about making money”. FIFA’s agreement with host cities means it is FIFA and its affiliates, rather than U.S. host cities or venues, who take home the bulk of revenue from concessions sales at the World Cup.

“It’s just wrong,” Starmer told LBC. “And I can’t help but think that it’s about making money. So you can’t bring plastic bottles in but you can buy a bottle of water when you get in the crowd? And then it’ll be expensive. The tickets themselves cost a fortune, far too expensive in my view. So the ticket sales are too high. And this is the wrong policy.

“I would call on FIFA to just look again at this.”

Sure enough, the row-back from the U-turn duly arrived.

Why do fans need water bottles?

It is not uncommon for fans to be prevented from bringing water bottles into soccer games. It is not permitted in the English Premier League, for example, and even bottles purchased within the venue have caps removed for safety concerns (reduces the risk of them being used as projectiles).

At Manchester United’s Old Trafford, fans are permitted clear, lidless, plastic bottles of less than 500ml while, at London’s Wembley Stadium, “clear, empty, crushable plastic bottles” of the same size are permitted.

However, in last summer’s FIFA Club World Cup, which was held at U.S stadiums, water bottles were allowed. Many of those stadiums are hosting World Cup games this summer.

The United States, Canada and Mexico are all expected to experience high temperatures over June and July, making hydration for fans and players alike incredibly important.

In a 52-page report published in May, World Weather Attribution’s scientists claimed 26 of the 104 World Cup games are likely to be played when the host city’s Wet Bulb Global Temperature exceeds 26 degrees Celsius (78.8°F), and five games at the six-week tournament are likely to be played in conditions with a WBGT that exceeds 28°C (82.4°F).

WBGT combines temperature, humidity, wind, and sunlight to provide a measure of heat stress, and it is used by the military, sports scientists, and safety experts to prevent heat-related illnesses.

At the 2024 Copa America final, which was hosted at Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, a World Cup venue, fans had to pay for water and many were struggling after queuing in the heat, leaving them seeking hydration from the fire department.

World Cup fans will arrive at stadiums after paying high prices to purchase a ticket, inflated transportation and parking costs, and often expensive rates for accommodation, so will welcome the chance to save on water.

What does a lack of water do to the body?

Even mild levels of dehydration (when your body loses more water than it takes in) can make us feel light-headed and dizzy while also potentially causing headaches and fatigue.

As fluid levels drop further, you can develop muscle cramps from an imbalance of electrolytes like sodium and potassium, impaired brain function and your sweat levels might start to reduce which can leave you susceptible to overheating and heatstroke.

For the players, dehydration can have a drastic impact on performance both physically and cognitively. The lack of water in the body reduces blood volume which strains the cardiovascular system and accelerates muscle fatigue. Dehydration can also reduce the ability to focus and negatively impact alertness.

It doesn’t take much, either. Studies have shown that when an individual is dehydrated by as little as two per cent of their body weight, exercise performance is impaired. Losses in excess of five per cent of body weight can decrease the capacity for work by around 30 per cent.

Even soccer players competing in cooler temperatures in the Premier League will lose around two litres of fluid per game. In hot conditions, that can rise as high as five litres.

Replacing that amount of fluid during a game (i.e. during the two cooling breaks and at half time) is not realistic. So teams will likely look to focus on intakes of fluid around 200ml (7oz) during the three minute cooling breaks, with that fluid containing a concentrated amount of electrolytes.

What else do fans need to know about what they can take into stadiums?

Prohibited items for fans at World Cup stadiums include any object which could be used as a weapon, such as umbrellas and motorcycle helmets as well as obvious items like sharp or bladed items and guns.

Selfie sticks, tripods and video cameras are also not allowed, with FIFA also banning “devices that produce noise or other excessively loud sounds, such as vuvuzelas, whistles, air horns, loudspeakers”.

Finally, tifos (large scale fan displays, including banners) will have to be coordinated with world football’s governing body. Banners or flags with discriminatory messages will not be permitted, either.

Click here to read article