FIFA, Qatar agree to allow ‘alcohol’ in stadiums during World Cup

At the World Cup later this year in Qatar, beer will be available in the stadiums, but fans will not be able to consume alcohol in the official fan zone until 6:30 PM every evening.

Alcohol is exclusively sold in certain hotels and restaurants in Qatar, but negotiations between FIFA, official World Cup sponsor Budweiser, and the Qatari government resulted in this compromise.

Outside of a select few venues, fans will be permitted to consume alcohol, but only during certain hours and locations during the tournament.

This was contained in a statement by FIFA which read: “Inside the stadium bowl ticket holders will have access to non-alcoholic Budweiser Zero. At the FIFA Fan Festival, Budweiser will be available to purchase from 6.30 p.m.”

For a little country with only 2.8 million people as its population, the World Cup is anticipated to bring in more than one million fans to Qatar. There have been countries other than Qatar that have previously loosened their alcohol laws to host the football fiesta.

In 2014, Brazil softened its attitude after local legislators passed a special bill exempting the competition from the prohibition on the sale of alcohol in stadiums.