FIFA allowing disposable water bottles at World Cup matches

TORONTO – FIFA is clarifying that soccer fans will be allowed to bring disposable water bottles to World Cup matches in Canada and the United States.

A FIFA official said the announcement makes its policy clear following backlash about its ban on reusable water bottles at World Cup stadiums.

“One soft, plastic, disposable, factory-sealed water bottle up to 20 ounces (590 millilitres) will be permitted per spectator,” said Heimo Schirgi, chief operating officer of the 2026 World Cup, in a video posted on social media.

Still banned are hard-sided reusable water bottles, with FIFA previously saying in a statement that the policy was to prevent risk and injury to players and attendees.

FIFA’s stadium rules had said fans could bring in a transparent, reusable bottle of up to one litre in capacity, but a document earlier this week said they would not be allowed “for the avoidance of doubt.”

Officials in Toronto have criticized the ban, citing health risks such as dehydration during games played under the hot sun.

Dr. Michelle Murti, the city’s chief medical officer of health, said at a news conference Friday she is concerned about fans’ health if temperatures rise in Toronto during a World Cup match.

“Certainly, if there was a heat alert day on a game day, and people didn’t have access to water, we are concerned about the potential for heat impacts,” Murti said. “That is part of the response that we provided to the FIFA organizing committee.”

With temperatures in the 30s expected in many of the U.S., Mexican and Canadian cities hosting the 104 games, FIFA said “heat mitigation” for fans approaching stadiums would include “misting stations, fans, hydration stations, cooling tents, and more.”

It also said pricing for water bottles at the games “will remain consistent with other events” at each stadium.

Toronto Environmental Alliance said the ban would “worsen the massive piles of single-use garbage expected from the games” and force fans to spend more money buying single-use plastic water bottles.

In a post on social media Thursday, Toronto Coun. Josh Matlow called the ban “greedy and unreasonable,” saying access to drinking water should be a right throughout the city. 

Don Hardman, Canada’s executive director of stadium and venue management for the World Cup, told reporters at Toronto Stadium on Thursday that there are cooling stations set up at the venue and that officials are still “fine-tuning” options for water refills.

Empty and non-glass water bottles are normally welcome at BMO Field, which has undergone millions of dollars in upgrades to transform into the World Cup-ready Toronto Stadium. Drinking fountains line the concourse for fans to fill up, according to the venue’s website.

Sharon Bollenbach, the City of Toronto’s FIFA World Cup 2026 executive director, said she does not know why the policy on reusable bottles changed.

“I can’t speak to the decision there,” Bollenbach said. “Obviously, I think safety was a factor.”

Clear plastic refillable water bottles will be allowed at Toronto’s FIFA Fan Festival, Bollenbach added, along with various water stations set up for fans.

Toronto Stadium is expected to host a sellout crowd of more than 45,000 fans on June 12 when Canada takes on Bosnia-Herzegovina in the first FIFA World Cup game on Canadian soil.

The city will host six games during the tournament, while Vancouver will host seven.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 5, 2026.

— with files from The Associated Press