Bafana Bafana fans will have to find other ways to make noise in North America, as FIFA have added the iconic vuvuzela to the prohibited items list for the 2026 World Cup alongside air horns and laser pointers. | AFP
Image: AFP
Bafana Bafana will have to play without the symphony of the South African war horn behind them as vuvuzelas have been banned from the World Cup.
The iconic instrument that became the soundtrack of the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa will not be heard inside stadiums when the tournament kicks off across the United States, Canada and Mexico later this month.
Fifa have included vuvuzelas on their list of prohibited items for all 16 World Cup venues, placing them in the same category as air horns, bullhorns and other "excessive noise instruments".
The vuvuzela became a global symbol of the first World Cup hosted on African soil in 2010. Whether fans loved it or hated it, there was no escaping the constant drone that echoed around stadiums from Johannesburg to Durban to Cape Town.
During the 2010 tournament, players complained that they could not communicate with teammates on the pitch, while broadcasters and TV viewers frequently criticised the relentless noise.
The horn can produce sound levels of around 120 decibels, close to the threshold where hearing discomfort begins. Fifa's modern stadium security and fan-experience policies place a strong emphasis on safety, communication and crowd management. Organisers have since clamped down on noisemakers that can interfere with announcements, emergency instructions and the match-day experience.
The vuvuzela is far from the only item supporters will have to leave at home. Fans will not be allowed to bring umbrellas, backpacks, large purses, outside food and drinks, professional cameras with detachable lenses, selfie sticks, folding chairs, fireworks, flares, smoke bombs, laser pointers or vaping devices into stadiums.
Anyone caught carrying pyrotechnics could face ejection from the venue, arrest and possible prosecution. Fifa are also enforcing a strict clear-bag policy.
Only transparent bags meeting specific size requirements will be permitted, while standard backpacks and tote bags will be turned away at the gates. There will be no bag-storage facilities at most venues.
The good news for South African supporters is that flags, singing and passionate support remain very much welcome. It will also be the perfect time for the national team to let their football do the talking. The play their first game of the showpiece event against Mexico next week Thursday (kick-off 9pm).
Jehran Naidoo is sports reporter for Independent Media and social media coordinator of the our YouTube channel The Clutch