Qatar reverses course, bans alcohol at World Cup

Alcohol will not be available at World Cup stadiums in Qatar after all. 

What happened: The International Association Football Federation (FIFA), issued a statement today saying that alcohol will not be available at the Doha stadiums hosting World Cup matches. Booze will only be available at “licensed venues” and the FIFA Fan Festival as well as other unspecified “fan destinations,” per the press release. 

The FIFA Fan Festival involves viewing parties in World Cup host cities. 

The decision followed "discussions between host country authorities and FIFA." It's a reversal for the World Cup, which is being held for the first time in the Middle East. The previous plan was to allow beer to be sold in the stadiums. 

Just yesterday, Reuters reported on the prices for Budweiser, the American beer company that obtained exclusive rights to sell beer in the stadiums. Budweiser’s “BudZero,” which has no alcohol, will still be available, according to the FIFA release. 

The Emirati news outlet Hotelier reported that beer will still be available in expensive hospitality boxes at the stadiums. 

Why it matters: The decision is bound to anger many soccer fans, who bought expensive tickets to the World Cup expecting to be able to drink alcohol during the matches. Drinking is big part of soccer culture. On the other hand, the move could please fans who do not drink, including observant Muslims. 

Qatar allows alcohol in the country, but consumption is highly restricted. Most Islamic authorities consider drinking alcohol forbidden under Islamic law. 

The alcohol decision is the latest in a string of controversies surrounding the World Cup. Last week, Qatar’s World Cup ambassador denounced homosexuality as Qatar was already facing scrutiny for its repression of LGBTQ people in the country. The poor conditions that Qatar’s foreign workers face has also received international criticism in the lead-up to the games. 

Know more: The World Cup will begin on Sunday. Several teams from the Middle East and North Africa qualified for the World Cup this year. The Iranian soccer team is mired in controversy over the ongoing anti-government protests there.