THIS IS WILD.
FIFA has officially banned fans from bringing reusable water bottles into World Cup stadiums ahead of this summer’s tournament in the U.S., Mexico, and Canada.
Previous stadium rules allowed fans to bring empty transparent bottles up to 1 liter to refill inside venues, but the policy was recently changed. FIFA says the decision was made for “safety considerations.”
The move comes as heat is expected to be a major issue throughout the tournament, with FIFA already planning hydration breaks during every match. A recent study using 20 years of climate data found that 14 of the 16 World Cup stadiums could reach heat levels that pose health risks for players and spectators.
FIFA says stadiums will still have hydration stations, cooling tents, misting stations, and fans available around venues.