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With the World Cup just around the corner, FIFA has announced a ban on fans bringing reusable water bottles into all host stadiums. This change reverses the previous allowance of transparent, reusable bottles up to one litre, sparking frustration among supporters and local officials, especially as the tournament coincides with the summer heat.
In Toronto, where BMO Field usually permits empty, non-glass bottles for events, city councillor Josh Matlow has voiced his concerns. He has reached out to Toronto’s FIFA secretariat, urging them to challenge this policy. “They should be discussing this with us rather than just telling us,” Matlow said. He emphasized the importance of ensuring fans have easy access to water during games held in temperatures of 30 degrees Celsius or higher, calling it “a basic health and safety issue.”
Climate experts warn that 2026 could be one of the hottest summers on record in Canada. In response, Mayor Olivia Chow criticized FIFA’s stance as “a pure money grab” and expressed her intent to explore possible city interventions against the ban.
While BMO Field typically allows empty reusable bottles, for the World Cup, fans will need to purchase bottled water or other non-alcoholic drinks from FIFA’s official sponsor, Coca-Cola. Soccer fan Jobin George, who has tickets for two Toronto matches, is disappointed by the policy. Aiming to cut down on plastic waste, George always carries his own bottle and sees FIFA’s ban as forcing fans to spend unnecessarily. “You already paid crazy money for the tickets. And then you’re going to spend more on water. That’s just crazy. It doesn’t make sense. That’s the least they can do,” he said.
FIFA defended the new rule, saying the ban is designed “to prevent risk and injury to players and attendees.” The organization is cooperating with host cities and local authorities to implement “heat mitigation factors” such as misting stations, cooling tents, and water stations near stadiums. However, all water at stadiums will be sold at prices “consistent with other events held at each stadium.”
While Toronto’s BMO Field will still provide free water through drinking fountains located in four sections of the 45,000-capacity stadium, the ban on reusable bottles raises environmental concerns. Emily Alfred, a waste campaigner with the Toronto Environmental Alliance, pointed out the impact on plastic waste. She estimates that if every fan buys just one bottle per match in Toronto, it could mean over 250,000 single-use bottles across six games. “It’s really disappointing to think about the amount of waste that’s coming from this,” Alfred said.
Critics also highlight the steep ticket prices, which range from hundreds to thousands of dollars. Matlow called it unfair that fans, many of whom have saved for years to attend the event, now face additional costs for basic necessities. “These are regular people who are saving to finally see something that’s important to them, to have that once-in-a-lifetime experience in their own city, and now they’re going to be told to spend more money on a Coca-Cola product. That’s just wrong,” he said.
As the World Cup kicks off next week, fans must prepare to navigate both the heat and FIFA’s new water bottle restrictions inside the stadiums.