The story began when FIFA changed its rules just a week before the start of the tournament, informing ticket holders that they would no longer be allowed to bring reusable water bottles into World Cup stadiums. This is despite the fact that in the previous version of the regulation, fans could take transparent and empty bottles up to one liter capacity to the stadium and use the drinking fountains inside the complex to fill them.
This sudden change was met with the sharp reaction of Zohran Mamdani, the mayor of New York. He stated that he was “concerned” about the decision and plans to seek an explanation from FIFA about the reasons for it. According to the mayor of New York, the heat of the matches does not affect only the players, and the spectators are also exposed to the weather for hours before and after the match. He emphasized that no one should give up drinking enough water because of the high price of water in the stadium.
These concerns are not unfounded. According to the report of the scientific group World Weather Attribution, about 26 matches out of 104 matches of the 2026 World Cup will probably be held in significant heat conditions. Experts have warned that in some matches, the heat stress index may even cross alarming levels; A matter that doubles the importance of easy access to water.
The protests are not limited to New York. Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow also described the decision as “clear moneymaking” and said: “Why should people buy water when they can carry the water they need? This work is both cheaper and in favor of the environment.” He believes that FIFA, which earns billions of dollars from the World Cup, should not impose such restrictions on fans.
It is noteworthy that in last year’s Club World Cup, which was held in some of these stadiums, FIFA allowed fans to bring their own water bottles into the stadium. This issue has made many critics question FIFA’s reasoning about security requirements or stadium regulations.
Reports published from within FIFA also show that this decision was not without opposition. Informed sources have told Athletic magazine that members of FIFA’s security and safety departments had expressed concern about this policy in the past months, and even within this organization there were serious differences of opinion about it.
Meanwhile, some sources believe that commercial considerations played an important role in making this decision. According to the hosting contracts, the majority of the income from the sale of food and drinks in the stadiums goes to FIFA and its business partners. On the other hand, Coca-Cola, as one of the biggest financial sponsors of the World Cup, will offer its beverage products, including mineral water, in the stadiums. However, the company has denied any role in the recent decision.
In response to criticism, FIFA emphasized that the ban on water bottles was adopted solely based on safety and security considerations. This organization claims that alternative solutions for providing water and dealing with heat in stadiums are considered and the health of spectators is still a priority.
However, with the 2026 World Cup facing criticism about ticket prices, incidentals, and now access to drinking water before the start of the tournament, many fans are questioning whether the world’s biggest football celebration has become too commercialized. A question that will probably be raised until the start of the tournament and even after that.
