Fans pouring into World Cup stadiums across the United States are getting an unwelcome surprise at the gates — their regular purses and backpacks are not allowed inside, thanks to a clear-bag security policy that many never knew existed.
Caught off guard, countless fans have found themselves rushing to move their belongings from their own bags into clear plastic ones. Vendors outside most venues have been quick to capitalize on the situation, selling clear bags — typically for around $20 each — to fans who arrive unprepared.
“It shocked and surprised me,” said Ethan Magda, 19, from Arizona, who was attending a match at the Los Angeles stadium. “I bought my ticket like two months ago, and I looked on the website. I looked for why I can bring in what I can’t bring in. Obviously I can’t bring knives and guns and stuff like that, obviously, but it didn’t say anything about clear bags.”
The confusion is not limited to American fans. Visitors from countries outside the U.S. and Europe are particularly caught off guard, as clear-bag requirements are not commonly enforced at sporting events in many parts of the world.
“I didn’t know we can’t bring this bag,” said Ken Son, 27, from Taiwan, as he retrieved his small grey bag from a paid storage locker at the venue. “And I think this bag is really small, so I’m really surprised that I cannot bring it into the game.”
Clear-bag policies have become standard practice at major events in the United States, where widespread handgun ownership and ongoing terrorism concerns have pushed security measures to a higher level. Most U.S. stadium events now enforce the rule.
In Europe, bag restrictions have been gradually tightened as well, though the continent has not universally adopted the clear-bag requirement. Security concerns there have escalated following high-profile attacks, including the 2015 terrorist strikes near the Stade de France in Paris during a France-Germany soccer match, and the 2017 bombing at a Manchester arena following an Ariana Grande concert.
Because security rules differ so widely from country to country, international fans are frequently left confused when attending events abroad.
FIFA has made the clear-bag policy a top priority in its communications, listing it as the first item on its online Fan Safety and Support page for the World Cup.
For fans already familiar with the rule — particularly Americans who regularly attend stadium events — the policy is seen as a reasonable precaution. Several fans told reporters they feel safer because of it and noted that security lines move more quickly as a result.
“I think it’s really safe, like as many shootings as there are, as many problems there are,” said Adriene Napolitano, 16. “Even though you might have to buy your own bag, like, it’s keeping everyone in the stadium safe, you know.”
For the thousands of first-time World Cup attendees from around the globe, however, the surprise bag policy is just one more unexpected expense — adding to the already steep cost of experiencing the world’s biggest soccer tournament.
