Stadiums across the U.S. are hosting FIFA World Cup games this year, as the country hosts the highly anticipated event alongside Mexico and Canada. One of them is the San Francisco Bay Area Stadium, where fans have already watched four major matches.
Naturally, people are sharing all kinds of World Cup moments online, from chasing down merch to the excitement inside the stadium. During the Austria versus Jordan match on June 16, however, one woman filmed something in the background that most of us do not get to see on screen.
TikTok creator Aggie (@aggie.sanfrancisco) showed the crowd at the entrance, pointing out that security was stricter than usual.
“Strict bag policy at FIFA World Cup,” she wrote in the video’s text overlay. “I saw people abandoning strollers, Louis Vuitton bags and mountains of water bottles.”
What Can You Bring To The SF Bay Area Stadium During FIFA?
According to the official SF Bay Area FAQ, fans can bring approved clear bags, small personal items, national team flags, and other matchday essentials.
But those approved bags have to be clear plastic, vinyl, or PVC, and they cannot be bigger than 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches. Meaning your regular purse or backpack is probably not making it in.
Small wallets or clutch bags are allowed, but only if they are 4.5 inches by 6.5 inches or smaller. That is about the size of a hand.
If someone shows up with a prohibited item, they have to decide whether to walk all the way back to their car, miss part of the match, or leave the item behind.
The water bottle rule is also stricter than some fans may expect.
Fans are allowed to bring one factory-sealed plastic water bottle up to 20 ounces. But hard-sided and reusable water bottles are not allowed.
Why Do Stadiums Do This?
The point of the “clear bag” policy is mainly speed and security. Clear bags are easier to check quickly, especially when thousands of people are trying to enter at once.
FIFA says the rule is meant to keep entry “safe and efficient.” Meanwhile, the NFL has previously said clear bags are easier and quicker to search.
As for the water bottle rule, Reuters reported this year that FIFA banned hard-sided and reusable bottles over safety concerns. It reportedly states the rule is meant to “prevent risk and injury to players and attendees.” After backlash, FIFA later said fans would be allowed to bring one sealed soft plastic water bottle of up to 20 ounces, while reusable bottles would remain prohibited.
What Did People Leave Behind?
In the comments, one viewer clarified the water bottle rule.
“Water bottles have to be sealed aka unopened,” they wrote.
Aggie agreed, but said that was not the type of bottle that was prohibited at the entrance.
“Yes, but some people brought reusable water bottles and they had to leave them,” she replied.
Another viewer joked that the abandoned items outside sounded like an opportunity.
“So what you’re saying is I can get a new bag,” they wrote.
“One person left their LV bag in their stroller next to the trashcan so hopefully it was still there when they got back,” she replied.
Other fans said their stadium experience was not as strict.
“I went to the stadium in Philly last week & they didn’t even bother checking bags from what I saw,” one person wrote. “I was very surprised, I would still recommend bringing a clear bag to be safe!”
BroBible has reached out to Aggie via email for comment.