Is FIFA really banning tailgating at the World Cup?

Very little heading into this summer's World Cup in the U.S., Mexico and Canada could be described as fan friendly. FIFA has essentially turned the tournament into a money-making operation, pricing out fans at every turn.

That might also mean a U.S. World Cup without tailgating.

One of the unique aspects of U.S. sports culture is tailgating. And in a global event, it could have presented an amazing opportunity to blend different cultures with a uniquely American sports experience.

But this week, a line from the Boston 2026 website caught the attention of several outlets and soccer accounts. The FAQ section from the Boston organizing committee said that tailgating would be outright banned at Gillette Stadium during the tournament.

No Tailgating: Please note that the traditional “tailgating” (eating and drinking around parked cars) is not permitted for these events.

Boston 2026 initially cited a FIFA policy before removing that portion of the section on Wednesday.

Fans seemed to take this as a universal tailgating ban that came from FIFA. Several host sites like Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium and Philadelphia's Lincoln Financial Field have amazing tailgating scenes. So, it would be a shame to see that prohibited through corporate greed in the name of "security concerns."

But is FIFA actually banning tailgating?

Outside of the Boston 2026 site, no other hosting committee lists a no-tailgating policy. And FIFA's PR Twitter/X account tried to refute the claim that there was a FIFA directive on the subject.

This seems to be an attempt to pass blame onto the individual host sites when tailgating is either banned or severely limited. But FIFA does not have a written policy on tailgating.

For now, fans attending matches should refer to the individual host's policies. It will vary from city to city.

This article originally appeared on For The Win: Is FIFA really banning tailgating at the World Cup?