England and Scotland fans face unwanted extra World Cup cost after FIFA ban
As this summer's FIFA World Cup in America, Mexico and Canada hurtles ever closer, fans with tickets to the games have been dealt a real kick in the teeth.
Set to commence on Thursday, June 11 and last until Sunday, July 19, the epic football tournament promises to be an endurance test for everybody involved - players, managers and attendees - thanks to the extreme weather conditions across the stadium locations.
The US is offering up eleven of its cities (Dallas, New York/New Jersey, Atlanta, Kansas City, Houston, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Seattle, Boston and Miami), while Mexico provides three (Guadalajara, Mexico City and Monterrey) and Canada opens two (Vancouver and Toronto).
For anyone that's been to these wonderful places, you'll know that during the summer months especially, the temperatures aren't too dissimilar to walking on the sun's surface.
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Which means that, naturally, everyone in the stands is going to need to have a drink to hand.
In a bid to protect all who've bought a ticket, though, FIFA has announced a change in policy that bans refillable plastic bottles inside venues.
"FIFA is committed to protecting the health and safety of all players, referees, fans, volunteers and staff," read a statement issued this week.
"FIFA made the decision to prohibit bottles to prevent risk and injury to players and attendees. Outside bottles are already prohibited at several of these venues for safety considerations and FIFA is applying this consideration across its tournament stadiums.
"FIFA works closely with each host city committee and local authorities on heat mitigation factors for fans travelling to the stadium, which can include resources such as misting stations, fans, hydration stations, cooling tents and more around the stadium footprint. Inside the stadium footprint, pricing for water bottles for the FIFA World Cup 2026 will remain consistent with other events held at each stadium."
According to The Athletic, bottles of water cost around £3 to £4.50 at last year's Club World Cup hosted by the US.
The World Weather Attribution estimates that nine of the tournament's 104 matches will be played in conditions above 26 degrees, making supporters particularly vulnerable.
Meanwhile, FIFA's ruling has since received a good old fashioned lambasting by the Free Lions England fan group.
Posting on social media site X, a representative raged: "What next? Sun cream banned and fans forced to buy it in stadiums?
"For all of the effort they are going to with 'drinks breaks' for the players, this is such a strange, late change. In all of our discussions, free water availability in stadiums was a key one and we were assured by FIFA that this would be the case and that fans will have the ability to bring their own water bottle.
"Naturally, the immediate thought from supporters is this is just the latest money-grab," they continued.
"For how hot the stadiums will be, many in open air, just let fans bring a bottle if they want to. We hope the water fountains in stadiums will still be free, hopefully you aren't charged in the queue!"
Topics: World Cup, Football, Sport, Social Media
Dan Seddon