World Cup Fans Can Still Tailgate

It seems there’s still hope for fans eager to celebrate in stadium parking lots before supporting their teams during the World Cup.

This week, there were several reports suggesting that FIFA had imposed a ban on tailgating at U.S. stadiums for the upcoming tournament. However, FIFA quickly issued a statement to clarify that these claims are not true.

According to FIFA Media, there isn’t an overarching policy prohibiting tailgating—defined as the practice of eating and drinking around parked vehicles in stadium areas. The organization noted, however, that individual venues may have their own rules that could affect this popular tradition.

“Venue-specific restrictions could be enforced based on local regulations and in collaboration with public safety authorities of the host city,” added FIFA Media. They also mentioned that more information for fans attending the 2026 FIFA World Cup would be provided closer to the event.

The confusion seems to have stemmed from Boston’s World Cup website, which listed “traditional tailgating” as not permitted. It also pointed out that consuming alcohol in public or from an open container is illegal in Massachusetts.

Despite some concerns, FIFA emphasizes that restrictions on tailgating will not be a universal rule but determined by local city regulations.