FIFA Reverses Water Bottle Ban, Allowing Sealed Bottles Into US and Canada Venues

FIFA has performed another about-turn on its stadium policy, confirming that fans attending 2026 World Cup matches in the **United States and Canada** will be permitted to carry one factory-sealed disposable water bottle, easing a controversial ban introduced only days earlier.

The policy has whipsawed repeatedly in the run-up to the tournament. As recently as last month, FIFA had allowed empty, transparent, reusable plastic bottles of up to one litre inside venues. An updated code of conduct then prohibited reusable bottles entirely, citing safety concerns. Now, as of **June 6**, fans may enter with a single soft-plastic, factory-sealed bottle of up to **20 ounces**, roughly 590ml.

The flip-flopping has unfolded against a backdrop of serious heat concerns, with research flagging potentially dangerous conditions at venues including Houston, Dallas, Miami and Atlanta. Critics argued that restricting fans' ability to bring their own water during a summer tournament in extreme temperatures was both impractical and a health risk.

The reversal will be welcomed by supporters, but the sequence of changes has fuelled criticism of FIFA's last-minute decision-making. With the tournament days away, organisers will hope the new rules finally bring clarity to what fans can and cannot bring into stadiums.