FIFA Reverses Bottle Policy Days Before World Cup, Citing Security Over Precedent

FIFA banned reusable water bottles at 2026 World Cup venues, effective 3 June, overturning a policy that allowed empty plastic bottles up to 1 liter as recently as May. The governing body cited safety concerns. The reversal is stark: those same stadiums permitted bottles during last summer's Club World Cup. Venue operators had minimal notice—announcement came Thursday after implementation began Tuesday.