FIFA bans fans from bringing water bottles into World Cup stadiums, including MetLife

In a last-minute policy change, FIFA is banning reusable water bottles from stadiums hosting the World Cup.

id="inarticle-1">FIFA announced the change on Thursday, exactly one week before matches start. The original rules allowed water bottles if the weather was hot enough.

id="inarticle-2">

class="excoVideoPlayer article__paragraph">Soccer’s governing body said in a statement to Reuters that the water bottle ban is to prevent injuries.

id="inarticle-3">“FIFA is committed to protecting the health and safety of all players, referees, fans, volunteers, and staff,” the statement said. “FIFA made the decision to prohibit bottles to prevent risk and injury to players and attendees.”

id="inarticle-4">Free Lions, the English national team’s traveling fan embassy, shared in a post on X a graphic previously released by FIFA, which stated that plastic reusable water bottles with a capacity up to one liter would be allowed.

class="middleParagraph" id="inarticle-5">“What next? Suncream banned and fans forced to buy it in stadiums?,” Free Lions wrote in the social media post.

id="inarticle-6">The first World Cup matches will be held on Thursday, June 11. The first Group A match, Mexico versus South Africa, will kick off in Mexico City at 3 p.m. South Korea versus Czechia begins at 10 p.m. in Guadalajara, Mexico.

id="inarticle-7">MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford will host eight FIFA World Cup matches, including the final. The first, Brazil versus Morocco, will be on Saturday, June 13.

id="inarticle-8">

id="fusion-static-enter:CAMTSG3XKRGRPI2DJAU2YFWUQM" style="display: none;">

class="rawhtml">

id="fusion-static-exit:CAMTSG3XKRGRPI2DJAU2YFWUQM" style="display: none;">

class="InContent_Center_Background">

id="inarticle-9">Read the original article on NJ.com. Add NJ.com as a Preferred Source by clicking here.