FIFA Ban Sale of Alcohol at World Cup Stadiums 48 Hours Before Tournament Kicks Off in Qatar

• Alcohol sales will be prohibited at stadiums hosting the FIFA World Cup in Qatar, as confirmed by the world football governing body FIFA
• The move comes just 48 hours before tournament kicks off, after kingdom's all-powerful royal family forced FIFA to implement the new rule
• Fans will now be limited to drinking alcohol only in designated areas, and booze sales will only be permitted during specific hours

Fans will not be allowed to buy beers while watching any game at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, after FIFA banned the sale of alcohol in stadiums for the duration of the tournament.

This decision from world's football governing body comes just 48 hours before the tournament starts, through pressure applied by the Qatari kingdom's all-powerful royal family.

According to the Daily Mail, FIFA confirmed that alcoholic beverages would be confined to special 'fan zones' for those still willing to buy alcohol, but no sales in the stadiums would be allowed.

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The action puts FIFA at odds with partner and alcohol brand Budweiser, who is rumored to have a sponsorship deal with the organising body worth tens of millions of dollars.

The 2022 World Cup will kick off on November 20, and the opening match will be between Qatar and Ecuador at the Al Bayt Stadium in Al Khor.

Budweiser to FIFA's beer ban

Meanwhile, a tweet from Budweiser’s official Twitter account read: “Well, this is awkward”. The cheeky response followed FIFA's confirmation that beers are banned in stadiums during the World Cup, Football 365 reports.

In a statement issued on Friday, FIFA said that beer sales kiosks had been removed from the stadium's perimeter 'after consultations between FIFA and the host country authorities'.

It is known that Qatar, as the hosts, are worried about how alcohol sales may affect matchgoers from other Middle Eastern and Asian countries, as well as Qataris who do not typically drink.

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Qatar: a controversial host

Earlier, Sports Brief reported that the decision to award Qatar hosting rights for the 2022 World Cup was met with resistance from the onset.

The United States of America had been widely expected to win the bidding process, but then FIFA President Sepp Blatter instead announced Qatar as the winner of the vote.

FIFA was then rocked by shocking corruption allegations among the members of the Executive Committee, the panel responsible for deciding who hosts the prestigious global tournament.