FIFA Permits Sealed, Single-Use Water Bottles at World Cup Venues

FIFA announced on Friday a change in policy, allowing fans to bring their own water bottles to select stadiums during the World Cup. This adjustment comes after previously prohibiting refillable bottles at the tournament’s 16 venues across North America, many of which have limited or no shade.

According to a social media post from FIFA, fans may bring one soft, plastic, 20-ounce (590 milliliter), factory-sealed disposable water bottle to any match scheduled in the United States or Canada.

In a video from FIFA, Chief Operating Officer Heimo Schirgi clarified that hard-sided, reusable water bottles will still be prohibited “for safety and security reasons.”
FIFA emphasized, “to avoid any confusion, reusable water bottles are not allowed inside the stadium.”

Additionally, FIFA’s existing rules permitted fans to bring a clear, reusable bottle with a capacity of up to one liter, or 33.8 ounces. This update to the “Stadium Code of Conduct” faced criticism on Thursday from an English fan group that claimed FIFA had assured the allowance of empty plastic bottles for refilling with free water, especially given concerns over heat and extreme weather during the tournament.