Brussels, 6 June 2026: The Consumer Choice Center condemns FIFA’s decision to ban fans from bringing reusable water bottles into stadiums during the upcoming World Cup in North America.

The policy is as unnecessary as it is absurd. Many matches will be played during peak summer temperatures and, thanks to global broadcasting schedules, not even late enough in the evening to spare supporters from the heat.

Zoltán Kész, Government Affairs Manager at the Consumer Choice Center, stated:

“Fans are already spending thousands to attend the world’s biggest sporting event, yet FIFA continues to treat them like a security problem rather than paying customers.” 
“There are countless examples showing football can safely accommodate reusable bottles. In countries like Spain, where summer temperatures regularly exceed those expected at many World Cup venues, supporters attend matches in extreme heat without being subjected to pointless restrictions on basic hydration.”

Rather than adopting proven best practices from countries experienced in managing large crowds during hot weather, FIFA has once again opted for maximum inconvenience for the very people who make the tournament possible.

Kész concluded:“If FIFA officials genuinely believe an empty reusable water bottle is a major threat while expecting supporters to sit for hours in the summer heat, they’ve clearly lost sight of who the World Cup is supposed to be for. At this rate, fans may want to check whether shoes and belts are next on the prohibited items list.”