FIFA’s rules for match days across the United States, Mexico and Canada for the World Cup are much more strict than regular sporting events, and that only continued on Thursday.With just one week until the first match kicks off, FIFA has now banned refillable plastic water bottles from being allowed inside stadiums.This is a turn from the original rules, which stated refillable bottles were allowed if the weather was hot enough to justify it.Now, FIFA is saying no bottles no matter the case.CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COMA 2026 FIFA World Cup advertisement is displayed during a Major League Soccer game between Toronto FC and FC Cincinnati at BMO Field in Toronto, Ont., on April 11, 2026.
(Indrawan Kumala/NurPhoto)"FIFA is committed to protecting the health and safety of all players, referees, fans, volunteers, and staff," FIFA told Reuters."FIFA made the decision to prohibit bottles to prevent risk and injury to players and attendees."WORLD CUP TEAMS FINALIZE US BASE CAMPS AS HOST CITIES PREPARE FOR GLOBAL CROWDSIt was previously believed that the refillable water bottles were going to be a good use for soccer fans attending matches because FIFA had told Free Lions, a traveling fan embassy for England’s national squad, shared that the governing body promised access to free water."In all of our discussions, free water accessibility in stadiums was a key one and we were assumed by FIFA that this would be the case, and that fans will have the ability to bring their own water bottle," Free Lions wrote on social media, while also showcasing a graphic that said refillable bottles would be allowed.The FIFA World Cup 2026 countdown clock is displayed at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto on Aug.21, 2025.
(Andrew Francis Wallace/Toronto Star)FIFA is also blaming certain stadiums being used for the World Cup, saying it is simply applying rules that are already in place there.Since the World Cup is in the middle of the summer, hot conditions are one of ...