The FIFA World Cup 2026 countdown is on as lawmakers prepare for the Capitol Cup soccer match
‘Fox & Friends’ covers the upcoming FIFA World Cup 2026 countdown to the global soccer event. Former USMNT midfielder Stu Holden joins live from Audi Field to discuss the Capitol Cup congressional soccer match. Holden highlights the growing excitement for soccer in the United States and the national team’s underdog chances at the World Cup before taking part in a light-hearted penalty kick challenge.
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FIFA’s rules for match days across the United States, Mexico and Canada for the World Cup are much stricter than regular sporting events, and that only continued on Thursday.
With just a week until the first match kicks off, FIFA has now banned refillable plastic water bottles from being allowed inside stadiums.
This is a reversal from the original rules, which said refillable bottles were allowed if the weather was warm enough to warrant it. Now FIFA says no bottles regardless of the case.
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A 2026 FIFA World Cup advertisement is shown during a Major League Soccer match between Toronto FC and FC Cincinnati at BMO Field in Toronto, Ont., on April 11, 2026. (Indrawan Kumala/NurPhoto)
“FIFA is committed to protecting the health and safety of all players, referees, fans, volunteers and staff,” FIFA told Reuters.
“FIFA took the decision to ban bottles to prevent risk and injury to players and participants.”
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It was previously thought the refillable water bottles would be of good use to soccer fans attending matches because FIFA had told the Free Lions, a traveling fan embassy for England’s national team, shared that the governing body promised access to free water.
“In all our discussions, free access to water in stadiums was key and we were led to believe by FIFA that this would be the case and that fans will be able to bring their own water bottle,” the Free Lions wrote on social media, while also showing a graphic saying refillable bottles would be allowed.
The FIFA World Cup 2026 countdown clock will be displayed at Nathan Phillips Square in Toronto on August 21, 2025. (Andrew Francis Wallace/Toronto Star)
FIFA also blames certain stadiums being used for the World Cup, saying it is simply applying rules already in place there.
With the World Cup in the middle of summer, warm conditions are one of the biggest question marks, especially as some of these players took part in the Club World Cup last year. The final at MetLife Stadium, now named the New York/New Jersey Stadium for the World Cup, was a scorcher last summer.
While this new rule is in effect, FIFA had also previously told NPR that it would provide “additional cooling capacity, including shaded areas, misting systems, refrigerated buses and extended water distribution” in case of extreme heat. It is unknown whether it is still in effect ahead of the tournament.
Ecuador fans prior to the first half of the pre-2026 FIFA World Cup friendly against Saudi Arabia on May 30, 2026 at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey. (Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) (Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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For fans, that question remains, but players will see a mandatory three-minute cool-down break near the 22nd minute of each half to ensure they don’t face heat exhaustion. Nighttime games will also help, as will domed stadiums like SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., AT&T Stadium in Dallas and Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
However, the World Cup final will be held in East Rutherford, New Jersey, on July 19 at 15 ET, which will be the top temperature for the day at the first whistle.
