{"id":247007,"date":"2026-06-06T14:40:13","date_gmt":"2026-06-06T14:40:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/06\/fifa-makes-u-turn-on-controversial-2026-world-cup-decision-after-facing-backlash-from-fans-and-experts\/"},"modified":"2026-06-06T14:40:13","modified_gmt":"2026-06-06T14:40:13","slug":"fifa-makes-u-turn-on-controversial-2026-world-cup-decision-after-facing-backlash-from-fans-and-experts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/2026\/06\/06\/fifa-makes-u-turn-on-controversial-2026-world-cup-decision-after-facing-backlash-from-fans-and-experts\/","title":{"rendered":"FIFA makes U-turn on controversial 2026 World Cup decision after facing backlash from fans and experts"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"article-content\" data-postid=\"5176243\" data-slug-id=\"2791674\">\n<div class=\"vidazoo-player-container\">\n<span class=\"vidazoo-close-btn  hidden \"><br \/>\n<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>FIFA has reversed its decision to ban plastic water bottles at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/go\/fifa-world-cup\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">2026 FIFA World Cup<\/a>, which starts in the United States, Canada and Mexico on June 11, after criticism from fans as well as experts.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier in the week, the governing body had announced that plastic water bottles wouldn&#8217;t be allowed inside stadiums, despite a previous assurance that transparent bottles up to 1 liter capacity would be allowed.<\/p>\n<p><template id=\"template__newsletter-inline-banner-form-combo-widget\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"wrapper\">\n<p><img id=\"subscribe-img\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><\/p>\n<p>\nThanks for the submission!\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/template><\/p>\n<p>UK prime minister Keir Starmer was vocal in his criticism of the ban on plastic water bottles, as were many fans and experts. <\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;I can\u2019t help but think it\u2019s about making money,&#8221; Starmer told LBC. &#8220;So you can\u2019t bring plastic bottles in but you can buy a bottle of water when you get in the crowd? And then it\u2019ll be expensive. The tickets themselves cost a fortune, far too expensive in my view.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><template id=\"also-read-articles-template\"><\/p>\n<p><\/template><\/p>\n<p>On Friday (June 5), as reported by <a href=\"https:\/\/metro.co.uk\/2026\/06\/06\/fifa-will-now-allow-plastic-water-bottles-world-cup-games-anger-ban-28670107\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">Metro<\/a>, FIFA announced that &#8220;\u2018one, soft, plastic, 20 ounces (590ml), factory sealed disposable water bottle&#8221; would be allowed at all stadia in the United States and Canada.<\/p>\n<p>England fan group Free Lions had also criticised the ban on plastic water bottles:<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;What next? Suncream banned and fans forced to buy it in stadiums? For all the effort they\u2019re going to with drinks breaks for players, this is a strange, late change. In all our discussions, free water availability in stadiums was key.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;We were assured by Fifa that fans will have the ability to bring their own water bottle.Naturally, supporters\u2019 first thought is this is just the latest money-grab.&#8221;<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>There has been criticism about high ticket prices for the FIFA World Cup, with fans charged between \u00a3160 and \u00a3450 for one ticket for the quadrennial event, which runs from June 11 to July 19.<\/p>\n<hr\/>\n<h2>FIFA faces cold reception from fans in Toronto ahead of first World Cup match<\/h2>\n<figure class=\"image\"><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"sk-app-thumbnail\" alt=\"FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour 2026 in Mexico City - Source: Getty\" src=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/06\/0ef6f-17807507633524-1920.jpg\"\/><\/noscript><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"lazy-img\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" data-img=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/06\/0ef6f-17807507633524-1920.jpg\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/06\/0ef6f-17807507633524-1920.jpg?w=190 190w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/06\/0ef6f-17807507633524-1920.jpg?w=720 720w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/06\/0ef6f-17807507633524-1920.jpg?w=640 640w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/06\/0ef6f-17807507633524-1920.jpg?w=1045 1045w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/06\/0ef6f-17807507633524-1920.jpg?w=1200 1200w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/06\/0ef6f-17807507633524-1920.jpg?w=1460 1460w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/06\/0ef6f-17807507633524-1920.jpg?w=1600 1600w, https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/06\/0ef6f-17807507633524-1920.jpg 1920w\" alt=\"FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour 2026 in Mexico City - Source: Getty\" data-img-low=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/editor\/2026\/06\/0ef6f-17807507633524-1920.jpg?w=640\" src=\"data:image\/svg+xml,&lt;svg%20xmlns=%22http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg%22%20viewBox=%220%200%201920%201280%22&gt;&lt;\/svg&gt;\"\/><figcaption>FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour 2026 in Mexico City &#8211; Source: Getty<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Ahead of co-hosts Canada&#8217;s 2026 FIFA World Cup opener against Bosnia &amp; Herzegovina on June 12 in Toronto, fan enthusiasm has dimmed after initial excitement.<\/p>\n<p>Having ended a 36-year exile from the tournament in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/team\/qatar-football\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">Qatar<\/a> edition four years ago, Canada are back on the global stage, this time as co-hosts along with the United States and Mexico.<\/p>\n<p>However, FIFA&#8217;s new pricing structure &#8211; with the cheapest tickets for Canada\u2019s opening game being priced at over C$1,000 (\u00a3535). means many fans are less excited about the event.<\/p>\n<blockquote><p>\u201cFifa controls the World Cup,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/football\/2026\/jun\/05\/toronto-world-cup-fifa\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">said<\/a> Moshe Lander, a sports economist at Concordia University. &#8230; \u201cThere is no competition, so they can behave in whatever immoral, unethical, improper way they want \u2013 unless fans are prepared to walk away. <\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote><p>&#8220;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.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>The other teams in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/team\/canada-football\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">Canada<\/a>&#8216;s FIFA World Cup group are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/team\/switzerland-football\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" data-is-sponsored=\"false\">Switzerland<\/a> and the 2022 edition&#8217;s hosts, Qatar.<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-post-rating-widget\">\n<p><template id=\"post-rating-feedback-modal-template\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"post-rating-feedback-feedback-box\">\n<div class=\"post-rating-feedback-content\">\n<div class=\"post-rating-feedback-data\">\n<p>Why did you not like this content?<\/p>\n<p><textarea id=\"dislike-feedback-text\" rows=\"4\" placeholder=\"Please type your feedback...\"\/>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\n<button class=\"close\">Cancel<\/button><br \/>\n<button class=\"submit\">Submit<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/template><\/p>\n<div class=\"post-rating-widget-parent hidden\">\n<div class=\"rating-parent-container\">\n<div class=\"rating-content-holder\">\n<p>Was this article helpful?<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-rating-action-container\">\n<div class=\"like-container\">\n<button class=\"post-rating-like-button post-rating-button\" data-action=\"like\" title=\"like article\"><br \/>\n<img class=\"post-like-image post-rating-image\" data-lazy=\"\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/like-articles\/upvote-icon-grey.svg\" height=\"20\" width=\"20\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"like selected\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dislike-container\">\n<button class=\"post-rating-dislike-button post-rating-button\" data-action=\"dislike\" title=\"dislike article\"><br \/>\n<img class=\"post-dis-like-image post-rating-image\" data-lazy=\"\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/like-articles\/upvote-icon-grey.svg\" height=\"20\" width=\"20\" loading=\"lazy\" alt=\"avatar selected\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\nThank You for feedback\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"tag-cloud\">\n<div class=\"tags-text\">\n<div class=\"scrollable-content-holder  article-padding\">\n<p class=\"article-p  \">Quick Links<\/p>\n<p><button id=\"pnAdvancerLeft\" class=\"pn-Advancer pn-Advancer_Left \" type=\"button\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" style=\"background: none;\" src=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/skm\/assets\/article\/article-scroll-left.svg\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button><\/p>\n<nav id=\"pnProductNav\" class=\"pn-ProductNav\">\n<\/nav>\n<p><button id=\"pnAdvancerRight\" class=\"pn-Advancer pn-Advancer_Right \" type=\"button\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" style=\"background: none;\" src=\"https:\/\/staticg.sportskeeda.com\/skm\/assets\/article\/article-scroll-right.svg\" loading=\"lazy\"\/><br \/>\n<\/button>\n<\/div>\n<p>More from Sportskeeda<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>\n<span class=\"publisher-name\">Edited by Bhargav<\/span>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sportskeeda.com\/football\/news-fifa-makes-u-turn-controversial-2026-world-cup-decision-facing-backlash-fans-experts\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source link <\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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&#8217;t be allowed inside stadiums, despite [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":247008,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"tdm_status":"","tdm_grid_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[6806],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-247007","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-gossip"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/247007","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=247007"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/247007\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/247008"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=247007"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=247007"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sports.runfyers.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=247007"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}