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Ten years ago, the bottle flip had an entirely different meaning. It was a stunt teenagers would pull, spinning a bottle in a full circle before landing it upright on a surface. FIFA this week pulled off a flip of its own, reversing a ruling that now permits fans to bring personal water bottles into 2026 World Cup stadiums.
Under the original guidelines for World Cup attendees, FIFA had allowed supporters to carry empty, clear, reusable plastic water bottles into venues. However, on June 2, FIFA revised its stadium code of conduct, stripping out that provision and prohibiting the use of hydration stations inside stadiums.
The ruling sparked widespread outrage from fans, supporter organizations and government officials at various levels around the globe, who accused FIFA of prioritizing commercial gain over fan welfare, as spectators in sweltering stadiums would be compelled to buy water at inflated prices to stay hydrated.
Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow, whose city is set to host six World Cup fixtures including Canada's opening match, called FIFA's ruling a "pure money grab," while New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani told The Athletic he was "concerned" by the move, adding to his ongoing criticism of FIFA's planning and pricing for the tournament, which will culminate across the Hudson River at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J., on July 19.
In response to the widespread criticism, FIFA has since walked back its stance, permitting fans to bring a single soft-plastic 20oz (590ml) factory-sealed disposable water bottle to matches, with the previous requirement to keep it empty now lifted.
Why Are Water Bottles Important?
While many North American sports arenas prohibit outside food and beverages in favor of in-house vendors, some have made exceptions. The Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays permit fans to bring in virtually anything except alcohol to MLB games, and numerous venues have introduced a reusable, clear-bottle policy balancing health, environmental and security considerations.
This summer, however, water bottles have taken on added significance, particularly given the intense heat expected across many of the 16 host cities during the World Cup — a challenge that will be especially unfamiliar to European teams and their traveling supporters. Access to water is essential for coping with the summer conditions and was permitted at last year's 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, which used many of the same venues.
For now, the updated policy applies only to the 13 stadiums located in the U.S. and Canada, with no announcement yet on whether venues in Mexico City, Guadalajara and Monterrey will adopt the same rules. At all locations, fans will still be prohibited from bringing in food or hard-sided drink containers.