FIFA has backed down from a widely criticised decision to ban fans from bringing water bottles into 2026 World Cup venues, announcing on Friday that supporters will be permitted to carry one factory-sealed disposable plastic bottle into matches hosted in the United States and Canada.

The announcement, framed by FIFA as a “clarification” of its water bottle policy, came just two days after the governing body updated its official stadium code of conduct to prohibit refillable water bottles entirely a move that triggered immediate backlash from fans, health experts, and consumer advocates.

The original rules had previously allowed fans to bring in a transparent, reusable bottle of up to one litre capacity, making the sudden reversal all the more striking.

World Cup chief operating officer Heimo Schirgi delivered the update via a video posted on FIFA’s official X account, confirming that all fans would be allowed to bring in one soft, plastic, 20-ounce (590ml) factory-sealed disposable bottle to any FIFA World Cup 2026 match in the United States and Canada. However, Schirgi was firm that hard-sided, reusable water bottles would still not be permitted inside stadiums, citing safety and security concerns. He showed visual examples of what would and would not be allowed at the tournament.

FIFA defended its broader bottle restrictions on safety grounds, arguing that outside bottles are already prohibited at several of the venues being used for the tournament and that the policy was being applied consistently across all its World Cup stadiums to prevent risk and injury to players and attendees.

The reversal comes amid growing concern about the health risks fans may face from extreme heat at open-air venues during the tournament, which runs from June 11 to July 19 and is co-hosted by the United States, Canada, and Mexico. A report by the World Weather Attribution research group estimated that as many as 26 of the 104 matches at the World Cup are likely to be played in conditions where the Wet Bulb Global Temperature exceeds 26 degrees a threshold that combines temperature, humidity, wind, and sunlight to measure heat stress on the human body. Last year’s FIFA Club World Cup in the United States drew similar complaints, with fans reporting searing temperatures at venues where they were also barred from bringing in water bottles.

FIFA noted that misting stations, fans, hydration stations, and cooling tents will be available within the stadium footprint, and confirmed that bottled water will be sold inside venues at prices consistent with those charged at other events held at each stadium.