Following Ban on Reusable Bottles, Oceana Calls on FIFA to Reverse Decision & Urgently Equip Stadiums with Free Water Stations & Reusable Cups

Just days before the kickoff of FIFA World Cup 26™, FIFA announced it will ban fans from bringing reusable water bottles into hosting stadiums. The football governing body claimed the decision was made “to prevent risk and injury to players and attendees.” As recently as last month, FIFA was permitting empty, transparent, reusable plastic bottles up to 1 litre inside stadiums.

Oceana’s Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives Dr. Dana Miller responded with the following statement:

“FIFA’s decision to ban reusable bottles at the World Cup is not only a public health concern, but also an environmental one. These events already create tremendous amounts of plastic waste. If the decision was made in the interest of safety alone, then FIFA would also be banning the sale of single-use plastic bottles inside the stadium, which it does not appear to be doing. FIFA should urgently equip stadiums with widely accessible, free, and safe water dispensing stations paired with reusable cups. This is the best path forward to ensure safety, protect spectators’ health, and limit additional plastic waste.”

Oceana’s Senior Plastics Campaigner in Canada Anthony Merante responded with the following statement:

“Every reusable bottle kept out of a stadium is likely to be replaced by one or more disposable bottles. At the scale of a FIFA World Cup, that could mean millions of unnecessary single-use plastics. Canadian stadiums and host cities have invested in free, accessible water refill infrastructure to reduce waste, improve sustainability, and help keep fans hydrated. FIFA must reverse this decision before kickoff to protect the environment and fans.”

Oceana is the largest international advocacy organization dedicated solely to ocean conservation. Oceana is rebuilding abundant and biodiverse oceans by winning science-based policies in countries that control one-quarter of the world’s wild fish catch. With more than 350 victories that stop overfishing, habitat destruction, oil and plastic pollution, and the killing of threatened species like turtles, whales, and sharks, Oceana’s campaigns are delivering results. A restored ocean means that 1 billion people can enjoy a healthy seafood meal every day, forever. Together, we can save the oceans and help feed the world. Visit Oceana.org to learn more.