Fifa and Qatar organizers are still working on plans to serve all fans who want to drink at the game when they host the game in the Muslim-majority country in November.
Hospitality packages offering “premium drinks” at stadiums have been sold since February 2021, but the policy for most fans at eight venues and long-time World Cup sponsor Budweiser still requires less than five days before games to be finalized within a month.
The most popular option is to serve alcoholic beer in stadiums before and after games, and to allow fans to bring non-alcoholic Budweiser Zero to their seats.
“We will confirm and make things official in due course,” FIFA said in a statement on Saturday.
Fifa said it was “still working on” the design of the brand of beverage containers that fans will likely hold in areas that will be broadcast to hundreds of millions of viewers.
The 2022 World Cup is the first time in the World Cup’s 92-year history that it will be held in a Muslim country with such a strict social taboo on alcohol.
Ever since FIFA chose the host country in 2010, people have been asking how Qatar will meet the needs of fans who want to drink.
The following year, FIFA renewed a sponsorship deal with Budweiser brewer Anheuser-Busch until 2022. This partnership began with the 1986 World Cup.
At the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, pressure from FIFA led local lawmakers to pass a special bill exempting the sale of alcohol in stadiums.
Qatari organizers initially boycotted any alcoholic beverages served in the stadium, but a decade ago pledged to “create a plan to welcome all”.
“FIFA World Cup fans will be able to enjoy Budweiser Zero and Budweiser beer during the game,” Anheuser-Busch said in a statement Saturday.
Qatar has tested its alcohol policy when hosting football matches, including the 2019 Club World Cup – which featured European champions Liverpool, South American champions Flamengo and Mexican club Monterrey.
During that tournament, a drinking area was set up at a golf club on the outskirts of Doha, where beer was sold for $6, much cheaper than the usual high-end hotels in the city center.1xbet malaysia
In 2019, a flaw in the plan resulted in fans taking an hour-long game during rush hour on buses without toilets.
Golf club venues will again be considered for the World Cup scheduled for November 21-December. 18.
Organisers expect about 1.2 million visitors at the 32-team competition.
