FIFA has reversed its decision to ban plastic water bottles at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which starts in the United States, Canada and Mexico on June 11, after criticism from fans as well as experts.
Earlier in the week, the governing body had announced that plastic water bottles wouldn’t be allowed inside stadiums, despite a previous assurance that transparent bottles up to 1 liter capacity would be allowed.
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UK prime minister Keir Starmer was vocal in his criticism of the ban on plastic water bottles, as were many fans and experts.
“I can’t help but think it’s about making money,” Starmer told LBC. “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.”
On Friday (June 5), as reported by Metro, FIFA announced that “‘one, soft, plastic, 20 ounces (590ml), factory sealed disposable water bottle” would be allowed at all stadia in the United States and Canada.
England fan group Free Lions had also criticised the ban on plastic water bottles:
“What next? Suncream banned and fans forced to buy it in stadiums? For all the effort they’re going to with drinks breaks for players, this is a strange, late change. In all our discussions, free water availability in stadiums was key.
“We were assured by Fifa that fans will have the ability to bring their own water bottle.Naturally, supporters’ first thought is this is just the latest money-grab.”
There has been criticism about high ticket prices for the FIFA World Cup, with fans charged between £160 and £450 for one ticket for the quadrennial event, which runs from June 11 to July 19.
FIFA faces cold reception from fans in Toronto ahead of first World Cup match
Ahead of co-hosts Canada’s 2026 FIFA World Cup opener against Bosnia & Herzegovina on June 12 in Toronto, fan enthusiasm has dimmed after initial excitement.
Having ended a 36-year exile from the tournament in the Qatar edition four years ago, Canada are back on the global stage, this time as co-hosts along with the United States and Mexico.
However, FIFA’s new pricing structure – with the cheapest tickets for Canada’s opening game being priced at over C$1,000 (£535). means many fans are less excited about the event.
“Fifa controls the World Cup,” said Moshe Lander, a sports economist at Concordia University. … “There is no competition, so they can behave in whatever immoral, unethical, improper way they want – unless fans are prepared to walk away.
“Not just by avoiding giving them money, but also not going to the local pub and watching the matches. If enough people do it, they might change their behaviour.”
The other teams in Canada‘s FIFA World Cup group are Switzerland and the 2022 edition’s hosts, Qatar.
Edited by Bhargav