Football supporters hoping to add some extra noise to the expanded World Cup will have to leave one familiar item at home after FIFA moved to ban vuvuzelas from venues across the tournament in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
FIFA blocks vuvuzelas and other loud devices
FIFA’s stadium rules for the competition prohibit the plastic horns in all host-country venues, meaning the distinctive sound will not be heard at World Cup matches in the U.S., Canada or Mexico.
Vuvuzelas—made with a long plastic tube—became a defining feature of South African football, and they captured global attention at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Despite their popularity with many fans, the horns have also faced backlash over a persistent, droning tone that critics have compared to the buzz of bees.
Alongside vuvuzelas, FIFA’s stadium code of conduct also outlaws whistles, air horns and other overly loud noise-making equipment from every World Cup venue.
Other banned items and conduct restrictions
FIFA’s list of prohibited items is not limited to sound-related gear. Instruments that project laser beams, laser pointers, or comparable emissions are also banned from stadiums.
The code further sets out restrictions on how spectators present themselves and behave inside venues. It states that body paint and body tattoos do not count as clothing, and it prohibits streaking, flashing, or removing clothing to expose intimate body parts.
FIFA has also taken steps aimed at improving safety at grounds by banning reusable water bottles from being brought into match venues.
Penalties for supporters who break the rules
The stadium code makes clear that enforcement will be strict: fans who violate the rules can be denied entry or removed from the stadium.
Tournament dates and opening match
The 48-team World Cup—co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico—will be held from June 11 to July 19.
Mexico will begin the tournament by hosting South Africa on June 11.
