PHILADELPHIA — Drink up, FIFA World Cup fans — it looks like you’ll be able to bring a water bottle to games this year, after all. Now, FIFA said in a social media post Friday, fans going to World Cup 2026 matches in the U.

After fans criticized FIFA's decision to not allow any water bottles into the 2026 World Cup, the organization has lightened up its policy.

The 2026 FIFA World Cup finally gets underway this week, and you can follow all of the latest breaking news before Thursday’s opening group-stage game with The Athletic. We’d also love to hear from you before Mexico vs South Africa at the Estadio Azteca on Thursday. Get in touch by emailing live@theathletic.com.

World Cup 2026 tickets flood FIFA's resale market as steep fees and weak demand send prices tumbling 20% before kickoff.

Several FIFA World Cup officials have been denied U.S. entry, while others have been subjected to heavy security screening and visa denials. An Iraqi team photographer was denied entry last week at O'Hare International Airport.

Around 44,000 tickets disappeared from FIFA's official terminal in late May, which closely matched the new volume on resale sites.

Share on Pinterest The FIFA World Cup is expected to draw millions of fans to cities across North America, potentially increasing the risk of respiratory illnesses. Image credit: Photo by wakila/GettyImages Public health experts are concerned that the 2026 ...