What you can and can’t bring to 2026 World Cup games: water bottles, horns and more

Fans will be allowed to bring empty, reusable water bottles into 2026 World Cup games, but a wide array of other items, including most bags, will be barred from stadiums throughout the tournament, which will be held from June 11 to July 19 at locations in the United States, Canada and Mexico.

FIFA, which runs the World Cup, spells out the semi-specific rules in a “Stadium Code of Conduct” that was published months ago and recently finalized, a FIFA spokesman confirmed to The Athletic.

The 35-page document, which is written in three languages, includes an extended list of prohibited items and behavior.

Among the banned items are obvious ones, such as weapons, but also items such as balloons and “devices that produce noise or other excessively loud sounds, such as vuvuzelas, whistles, air horns, loudspeakers, etc.”

Some of the rules are specific. Others are vague and leave subjective enforcement in the hands of several different entities. The code of conduct states that it can be enforced by FIFA, by any of its U.S., Mexican or Canadian subsidiaries, and by stadium management, “including their officers, employees, representatives, volunteers, security personnel, stewards and administrators, or any third parties contracted to provide services to the stadium.”

The requirement for water bottles to be emptied may come into particular focus during games played in high summer temperatures.

The following is a look at what will and won’t be allowed in stadiums during the World Cup.

Bag policy

FIFA, as is common for organizers of major sports events these days, will tightly restrict the type of bags fans can bring into stadiums due to security concerns.

The “approved bags,” according to the code of conduct, “must be clear and made of plastic, vinyl, or PVC material” so as “to allow security personnel to easily see the contents inside without having to open them.” The bags “must not exceed 12 inches x 6 inches x 12 inches (30 cm x 30 cm x 15 cm).”

This essentially equates to a small, clear pouch. “Additionally, small clutch purses or wallets approximately the size of a hand are allowed, even if not clear and no larger than 4.5 inches x 6.5 inches (or 11cm x 16.5cm),” the document adds.

It later confirms, for the avoidance of doubt: “Non-transparent bags, backpacks, large purses, camera bags, seat cushions with pockets, zippers, compartments or covers, and other similar items are generally prohibited.”

If a fan arrives at the stadium with such a bag, they may be able to deposit it at a nearby locker-type storage facility and then pick it up after the match, as was possible at some Club World Cup matches last summer.

In general, the 2026 World Cup code of conduct is similar to the 2025 Club World Cup version. At matches last year, the basic rules were posted at stadium entrances. Similar signage is likely to be installed this summer, and the policies will be communicated to fans in each of the 16 host markets.

Organizers posted signs listing prohibited items at the entrance to games at the 2025 Club World Cup. (Henry Bushnell / The Athletic)

Prohibited items

The broader list of prohibited items covers all sorts of potential threats, including “any other object which could be used as a weapon, to cut, or to stab, or as a projectile, or any object which could in the opinion of the Event Organisers endanger the safety of others, including golf umbrellas or beach umbrellas, motorcycle helmets, hard hats and other similar objects.”

It also covers seemingly innocuous items, such as “significant quantities of paper or any rolls of paper.” Selfie sticks, tripods and video cameras are also prohibited.

The most relevant articles address items that are frequent features at soccer matches in some parts of the world, such as drums or flares.

The latter is strictly banned. The lengthy list of prohibited pyrotechnic paraphernalia includes: “Any materials, articles or objects (including self-made items), the use of which can result in the generation of smoke, heat and/or flames including lighters, matches, fireworks, flares, smoke bombs and other smoke-emitting articles, compressed and liquefied gases, combustible solids, poisonous or noxious or pungent substances, oxidising substances and organic peroxides.”

Musical instruments, on the other hand, may be allowed but will often need to be approved by FIFA and stadium authorities on a case-by-case basis.

“Any musical instruments (mechanical or manual) that cannot be fully visualized by security or that are larger than 12 cm x 12 cm x 12 cm (4.7 inches x 4.7 inches x 4.7 inches)” will be “subject to preapproval of the Event Organisers and security screening,” the document states.

It also adds that organizers “may require” attendees “to stop using musical instruments if the sound emitting from the respective device interferes with event operations or the enjoyment of other [attendees].”

Similarly, large banners, such as tifos, will need to be coordinated with FIFA in advance. Among the prohibited items are “flags, banners and posters except those that do not exceed 2 meters x 1.5 meters (78 inches x 60 inches) or unless approved in advance by the Event Organisers in writing.”

The code of conduct adds: “All such items must be presented at the stadium entrance for inspection by the event organisers.”

FIFA has not yet opened the formal process for fans to submit instruments or banners for pre-approval. A spokesman said that will happen over the coming weeks.

Banners and flags will also be subject to a lengthy, open-to-interpretation policy that prohibits “any materials, including but not limited to banners, flags, fliers, apparel and other paraphernalia, that are of a political, offensive and/or discriminatory nature, containing wording, symbols or any other attributes aimed at discrimination of any kind against a country, private person or group on account of race, skin colour, ethnicity, national or social origin, gender identity and expression, disability, language, religion, political opinion or any other opinion, birth, wealth or any other status, sexual orientation or on any other grounds.”

Additionally, a fan can, of course, wear a team jersey or scarf, or another clothing item that doubles as sports memorabilia, but “sports equipment items such as inflatable balls, regardless of size, darts, and frisbees” are not permitted.

What you can bring to World Cup games

In theory, anything not covered by the lengthy code of conduct could be permitted, although the document also states that “event organizers reserve the ultimate right to make a final decision on whether any item brought to or into the stadium is prohibited and any decision must be respected.”

One of the few items it explicitly permits is an empty bottle, the type that can be refilled at a water fountain or dispenser. “For the avoidance of doubt,” the document states, “empty, transparent, reusable plastic bottles, up to [1 liter in] capacity, may be brought into the Stadium.”

But water itself — and “any other liquids exceeding 100ml/3.38 oz.” — cannot be brought in, with the exception of “baby milk and sterilised water in containers” or liquids that a fan requires for medical reasons.

The same goes for “food items of any kind.”

Additionally, any “bottles, cups, jars, cans or any other form of closed or capped receptacle that may be thrown or cause injury” are banned. So are “other objects made of glass or any other breakable material or especially hard packages or hard thermal boxes.”

One part of the code notes that “cigarettes and electronic smoking devices” can be carried into a stadium and “may be possessed,” but cannot be used. The code states that fans must not “smoke, vape or use any tobacco products as well as any electronic smoking device anywhere other than within outdoor designated smoking areas if they have been made available at the stadium.”

Among the other permitted items are smartphones, watches and eyeglasses.

The document also specifies that cultural or religious headwear and medical masks are permitted.