Qatar FIFA World Cup 2022: Officials reverse decision to sell beer in stadiums

There is about to be no more beer at World Cup matches, leaving fans high and dry and putting a $112m partnership in jeopardy. And the beer giant has responded.

Budweiser has responded.

The beer taps have been officially turned off at the World Cup.

Qatari officials sensationally reversed their approval for beer to be sold within the country’s eight World Cup stadiums – in an extraordinary development just two days out from the tournament opener between the host nation and Ecuador.

In a move that is set to have massive ramifications for the $112 million Budweiser partnership, FIFA confirmed the decision in a statement on Friday.

“Following discussions between host country authorities and FIFA, a decision has been made to focus the sale of alcoholic beverages on the FIFA Fan Festival, other fan destinations and licensed venues, remove sales points of beer from Qatar’s World Cup stadium perimeters,” the statement read.

“There is no impact to the sale of Bud Zero, which will remain available at all Qatar’s World Cup stadiums.”

When News Corp walked past the bin Khalifa Stadium, eight free standing Budweiser outlets were still standing.

Budweiser beer kiosks remained standing outside the Khalifa International Stadium in Doha. Picture: AFP

There was no sign of the outlets being taken down, though Budweiser Zero – the brand’s alcohol-free brew – will still be for sale inside the Stadium walls.

The set up is no different to previous World Cups, where the drinking outlets for fans have been in certain areas of the stadiums.

US beer giant Budweiser pays roughly $75m ($A111.5 million) for the right to be the official alcohol sponsor – but concerns were raised last week when a request was made by the Qatari Royal Family to move beer tents further away from stadiums.

It is a decision certain to enrage Budweiser, who mocked the decision in a since-deleted tweet from their official account.

“Well, this is awkward…” read the Budweiser tweet, which was later removed.

Budweiser's tweet after the announcement, which was then deleted. Picture: Twitter

The sale of alcohol in Qatar is strictly controlled, with hotel bars the only places for visitors keen to quench their thirst – although concessions were made for the World Cup, where stadiums and fan sites were also permitted to serve alcohol.

It is believed the new booze ban will not extend to the fan zones.

The last-minute change brings fresh concerns about the fluid nature of what restrictions are being loosened in Qatar, a conversative Muslim nation.

“Again this isn’t about beer being sold or not,” said New York Times journalist Tariq Panja.

“It’s about saying and promising one thing, expect amazing and all that, and then suddenly changing tack at the last minute, and doing precisely the opposite. Last minute changes to an event 12 years in the making.”

FIFA President Gianni Infantino will face the media on Saturday, where it is expected he will be grilled on the latest development in the beer saga.

Originally published as Qatar FIFA World Cup 2022: Officials reverse decision to sell beer in stadiums