FIFA World Cup 2022: Qatar stadiums likely to sell alcohol, says report

At this year’s FIFA World Cup 2022 in Qatar, football fans will not be allowed to carry alcoholic drinks to their seats in the stadiums, according to a report.

“Beer with alcohol is expected to be sold at World Cup stadiums in Qatar but fans may be allowed to take only non-alcoholic drinks to their seats. FIFA and Qatari organisers are still working on plans to serve all fans who want to drink at games when the tournament starts in November in the Muslim-majority country,” as per an Associated Press (AP) report.

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Since 2021, hospitality packages offering “premium beverages” at stadiums have been sold. According to the report, the favoured option is serving beer with alcohol in stadium compounds before and after games and allowing fans to take non-alcoholic Budweiser Zero to their seats.

“We will be confirming and making things official in due course,” FIFA said on Friday (July 8) in a statement. FIFA said designs are “still being looked into” of possible branding for drinking containers fans would hold in areas that will be broadcast to hundreds of millions of viewers, the report stated.

Recently, a Reuters report, quoting a source, said Qatar plans to host the World Cup without alcoholic drinks allowed at stadiums.

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“At stadiums, the plans are still being finalised, but the current discussion is to allow fans to have beer upon arrival and when leaving stadium, but beer won’t be served during the match or inside the stadium bowl,” a source told the news agency.

“Unlike previous World Cup fan zones, beer won’t be served all day long, but at restricted times,” the source added.

Alcohol will also be available for 15,000 to 20,000 fans on a disused corner of the Doha Golf Club, some kilometres away from stadiums and the main fan zone, the document shows, the report added.

This year’s 32-team football World Cup will be the first such tournament in the Middle East.