In a move that probably had a few PR folks reaching for the nearest stress ball, FIFA has quietly walked back its rather unpopular decision to ban disposable water bottles from World Cup stadiums in the US and Canada.
Yes, for a brief, bewildering moment, fans were told they could only bring empty, clear, reusable bottles. Then, in a plot twist no one asked for, even those were banned due to vague "safety concerns." Meaning, if you wanted to avoid dehydration while cheering on your team, you'd be shelling out stadium prices for every drop.
Naturally, this went over about as well as a penalty shootout loss. Fans and even city officials, like New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, were not amused. Mamdani, who's been pushing for fair World Cup pricing (he even snagged 1,000 tickets for $50 for residents), pointed out the obvious: no one should be priced out of staying hydrated, especially when the summer heat is doing its best impression of a hairdryer.
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Start Your News DetoxThe Great Hydration Reversal
Facing a tsunami of complaints, FIFA issued a "clarification." Because apparently that's what we call a full-blown U-turn now. The new-new rule? You can bring one soft, plastic, 20-ounce (590ml), factory-sealed disposable water bottle into any match. Just don't try to sneak in a hard-sided reusable one; those are still a no-go for those mysterious "safety reasons."
Interestingly, the policy update was silent on Mexico's stadiums. Perhaps they're still deciding if a sombrero counts as a hydration device.
This whole kerfuffle is particularly relevant given the World Cup runs from June 11 to July 19, right when North America's summer decides to dial up the heat. Forecasters are already warning about health risks, with one report suggesting 26 of the 104 games could hit uncomfortable levels on the Wet Bulb Global Temperature (WBGT) scale – which, for the uninitiated, is a fancy way of measuring how much the heat is trying to melt you.
Last year's FIFA Club World Cup in the US saw similar heat and similar water bottle bans, so you'd think someone might have learned. FIFA says they'll have misting stations, fans, and cooling tents. Which is great, but sometimes, you just want to bring your own damn water. And now, you mostly can.
