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The 2026 FIFA World Cup will be the largest World Cup in history, with millions of fans expected to fill stadiums across the US, Mexico, and Canada. But with a ban on reusable bottles, FIFA is pushing it's spectators to buy more expensive, more wasteful, and more microplastic-laden water.
After major public backlash, FIFA reversed part of its original decision. Instead of banning all bottles, fans will now be allowed to bring one sealed single-use plastic water bottle into matches. But reusable bottles are still banned. Critics also point out that this is pushing fans to buy single-use packaged water from inside stadiums, which is exclusively being sold by major World Cup sponsor Coca-Cola.
Health is a major concern. Many matches are expected to take place during extreme summer heat. Sports organizations are already warning about heat stress and dehydration, so access to water remains a serious issue. FIFA says fans can refill their disposable bottles at water stations inside the stadiums, but for many people, the issue isn't just hydration. People around the world are growing increasingly concerned with the harmful health impacts of microplastics. Studies have shown that a single bottle of water can contain hundreds of thousands of micro and nanoplastic particles, leading many people to reduce their reliance on single-use plastic whenever possible. For many people, a reusable bottle is about health just as much as reducing waste.
Many stadiums and entertainment venues across the U.S. are already stepping up with solutions, investing in refillable systems and reuse programs, showing that large events can expand access to water while reducing plastic waste. But instead of bringing the bottle they already own, World Cup fans are still being encouraged to rely on disposable packaging at one of the world's largest sporting events.
FIFA says the reusable bottle ban is about safety, preventing hard-sided containers from being used as projectiles and protecting players and attendees. And safety does matter—but many fans and advocates argue that public safety also means making sure people can stay hydrated, in a healthy, sustainable way.
This debate is about something bigger than soccer. More and more, we're seeing a world where even basic human needs—like access to water—become tied to consumption. Even after FIFA's policy reversal, many people are asking why the sustainable option is still off the table.
The World Cup is supposed to bring people together. But no one should have to choose between staying hydrated, creating more plastic waste, or paying whatever price is set inside a stadium.
